Notes For A Child (1961)

They will come to you, child,
As yet unborn.
They will whisper "Freedom"
In your ear.
They will say the price of Freedom
Is the death of others
And you will believe them.

But when they say "Enslave yourself in killing
So that you will be free".
When they say the death of millions
Is worth the life of one
Do not disagree.
You cannot. They force their laws on you.

If you turn and say
"How can I be free and also kill?"
If you reply through tears
And cry
"Your laws of death are not my laws,"
They will laugh.
And if you say
"I obey no laws of murder, I support no law of killing"
They will stamp on your face.

D. A. CUMMING, M.VI