All humanity wasting its powers

In the hand-to-hand struggle—death-dealing—

All children of ours!

Shall we bear it? we mothers who love them?

Can we bear it? we mothers who feel

Every pang of our babes and forgive them

Every sin when they kneel?

Dare ye sleep while your children are calling?

Dare ye wait while they clamor unfed?

Dare ye pray in the proud-pillared churches