Battle Hymn of the Empire

[Hogeye]

It is well-known that Julia Ward Howe penned the words to one of the most pro-war, warmongering songs ever conceived, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Few, however, know that, after seeing the awful devastation of the Civil War and its lasting effect on minds and souls, she became a pacifist and anti-imperialist. She started "Mother's Day for Peace" which later became Mother's Day. Last night, Julia Ward Howe appeared to me in a vision, and dictated a revised version of her most famous poem, beseeching me to publicize it. So here it is:


Battle Hymn of the Empire

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is cheering on our carnage and the bombing's angry gore;
We have hastened His apocalypse fomenting nuclear war
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the mortal wounds and death of multitudes,
They have builded Him an altar with the blood and limbs of rubes;
We know His righteous work from politicians on the tube:
His day is marching on.

I have heard the fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"Just kill all the contemners, later sort them out I will."
Let the soldier, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
We rip out beating hearts of men and pray before we eat.
Oh, be swift, my sword, to slit his throat and make him taste defeat!
While God is marching on.

Christ was all-American though born across the sea,
We must kill the evil villains who are not like you and me:
They must die to make us whole, when they are dead then they are free,
Our God is marching on.