Carl Sandburg, from War Poems [1914-15]

Wars
by Carl Sandburg, from War Poems [1914-15]

In the old wars drum of hoofs and the beat of shod feet.
In the new wars hum of motors and the tread of rubber
       tires.
In the wars to come silent wheels and whirr of rods not
      &nbspyet dreamed out in the heads of men.

In the old wars clutches of short swords and jabs into
      &nbspfaces with spears.
In the new wars long range guns and smashed walls,
      &nbspguns running a spit of metal and men falling in tens
      &nbspand twenties.
In the wars to come new silent deaths, new silent hurlers
      &nbspnot yet dreamed out in the heads of men.

In the old wars kings quarreling and thousands of men
      &nbspfollowing.
In the new wars kings quarreling and millions of men
      &nbspfollowing.
In the wars to come kings kicked under the dust and
      &nbspmillions of men following great causes not yet
      &nbspdreamed out in the heads of men.

— Carl Sandurg, 1878-1967

Boy did Carl ever get this one right. The poem is 97 years old, yet his “new silent deaths, new silent hurlers” prediction could easily describe our predator drones with which we kill folk by remote control using video game joy sticks.