THE WAY OF PEACE

An edifice of steel and stone
Held strong beams toward the sky,
And marble columns stable strength
Arose to hold it high.
Within its decorated halls
Research and learning told
How eye could see what matter formed,
Amazing to behold.
And men were awed how knowledge grew,
How wise these things of Earth,
But others saw a sickly psyche
And need for heart's rebirth.
To balance matter with the mind
So man might learn the plan,
His soul had sought through time to show
A life of peace for man.
A peace to vibrate through the halls
Of learning, business, home,
Where rich and poor might share Earth's gifts,
True wisdom's paths be known.
And from these halls of learning, man
Devised a weapon bold,
He'd split the atom's power and force
This peace he'd sought of old.
Confusion great came in its wake,
With enmity and strife,
Surging forth like molten rock,
To wreck both land and life.
Eroding through the march of time,
The water, wind and sand,
Wrenched from that wondrous edifice
Its pillars, once so grand.
And scattered them upon the plains
Washed some beneath the sea,
Its halls of learning blending with
The sands of time decree.
But temples hewn within the heart,
Stood firm in love's embrace,
And formed a dwelling for the soul,
That time could not efface.
Nor hide the songs no voice could sing
Or trembling strings make plain,
Its beauty grew through loving thoughts,
Whose seed within remains.
To throw a shoot at man's behest
And bloom a wondrous flower,
The mother of the fruits of love,
Through thoughts of peaceful power.
A seed awaiting wisdom's touch
Lain long in soil of time,
Asleep until the choice of man
Releases its design.
And growth that comes not from without
But from within when willed,
Springs forth to bring that Peace on Earth,
And life's desire fulfilled.