Action—Reaction

ACTION

A village nestling among the pines. Only the buzz of insects and hum of bees, together with the accompaniment of rustling branches, breaks the silence.

All is peace and harmony.

Hark!

From afar sounds a discordant blatant note. Nearer it comes, ever growing harsher, until at last, at the end of the street is seen a mounted horseman, with a bugle at his lips. With one final blast he summons all the peaceful souls, who crowd about him. He watches them, as they gather, with an appraising eye, and then with uplifted hand commands silence.

“All men and boys past the age of twelve follow me.

“In the name of the Law you must obey! Come!”

Raising his bugle, once more he shatters the peace of that little hamlet and moves on, followed in silence by all the men and boys over twelve.

No sound but that of moving feet can be heard. No tears, no lamentations from the stricken statues left behind.

The hush of even-tide—
The drone of insects—
The hum of bees—
The swaying of branches,
Thrilled by the breeze—

and silence once more descends upon the street.

Furroughed ground—
Booming guns—
Shrieking shells—
Smoke-laden air—

Young, old-men boys, automatons of men, ply their trade at the command “By order of the Law! Obey!”

Daylight passes—
The hues of even-tide caress,
And speak of rest,

but the command rings out:

“Forward! Attack!”
Night comes forth
With gleaming mantle,
And lays it over all that remains—
Furroughed ground!

REACTION

A bugle sounds in a hamlet town, and streaming forth come stricken souls, who with outstretched arms go forth to meet that straggling band which passes through the street—but they pay no heed.

Luminous are their faces, radiant their robes, as they gaze straight ahead, with never a look to the right or the left.

Morning breezes—
Buzz of insects
Hum of bees—
Branches bending
To the breeze.