"Lights out" along the land, <br />"Lights out" upon the sea. <br />The night must put her hiding hand <br />O'er peaceful towns where children sleep, <br />And peaceful ships that darkly creep <br />Across the waves, as if they were not free. <br /> <br />The dragons of the air, <br />The hell-hounds of the deep, <br />Lurking and prowling everywhere, <br />Go forth to seek their helpless prey, <br />Not knowing whom they maim or slay-- <br />Mad harvesters, who care not what they reap. <br /> <br />Out with the tranquil lights, <br />Out with the lights that burn <br />For love and law and human rights! <br />Set back the clock a thousand years: <br />All they have gained now disappears, <br />And the dark ages suddenly return. <br /> <br />Kaiser who loosed wild death, <br />And terror in the night-- <br />God grant you draw no quiet breath, <br />Until the madness you began <br />Is ended, and long-suffering man, <br />Set free from war lords, cries, "Let there be Light."<br /><br />Henry Van Dyke<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lights-out-2/
