And frost's chill spears pierce to the root
Where East is West, and West meets East
There sit the lords of War and Peace.
Though winter's cold has ceased to burn
And men to thoughts of cheer now turn
Come forth the queens of Day and Night
Whose power shall make the dark times bright.
As summer flows out o'er the land
To idleness, we turn our hand
And do not watch, the door to bar
Against the days of the Lord of War.
He sets himself against mankind
Against the storm, against the wind
His lances, swords, and arrows glow
With wrathfulness against the foe-
His helpmeet is the Queen of Day
Whose realm is justice. Yet come what may
Her sun throws down the cloak of dark
She burns her way, she leaves her mark.
But War must end, he cannot endure
And Day, whose power is called most pure
Must sway and cede the throne of right
To Peace, and Lady Queen of Night.
As Day was justice, so Night is wise
Her world is wisdom, her rule to devise
But cold as ice is Night to man
For wisdom's touch is no soft hand.
The Lord of Peace has a better lot
(His praise is never oft forgot)
So why stands he, in sorrow and plight
With wise, but bitter and uncouth Night?
Two riven pairs now stand apart
Each missing their other, bereft of heart
Imagine the wonder, like silver in treasure
If each of the halves were to stand together?
For Night is wisdom, but justice is bright
And the fate of each is not yet right
For War needs knowledge, and Peace to reign
Must appear in the glory of justice's name.
Then let Night and War go hand in hand
That wisdom rule wars in every land
And let Peace marry Day, so that peace unfurled
Should cover- not shrouding!- the map of our world.
But our world is not perfect, and these will not be
Until Peace, Wisdom, Justice cover land, sky and sea
These powers united, and stronger by far
When strengthened by wisened, indomitable War.
Two pairs and four powers. Four powers, one fate
Govern all of our conflict, each action, each state.
Together they must stand- four forces, one all
Or by frailty and weakness, divided, they fall.