We are honoured to have received two original poems this spring, penned by VOW members, decades apart. One written recently by VOW Board of Directors member Ainun Afroza and another sent to us by VOW member Joy West-Eklund and written in 1958 by her late mother, Theresa Harries, who was a founding member of Calgary Voice of Women.
Absence Of Peace
By Ainun Afroza, Board Member, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
Nothing works in the absence of peace
No one works, no one laughs
No one creates or goes to school-
When there is no peace.
No one loves, paints, plays or sings
No one dances, writes, reads
No one cooks, can’t even think-
When there is no peace.
Health, education, spirit and sports
Nothing works in the absence of peace
Oh people, think of that-
We need “PEACE” first and foremost!
What Shall We Tell Our Daughters?
By Theresa Harries, March 1958, founding member of the Calgary Voice of Women for Peace
Shall I tell my daughters truly
the history of their world;
of woman’s ageless longing
for peace-flags yet unfurled?
Shall I tell how, after centuries
man’s found no better way
to salve the wounds of mankind
than to plunder and to slay?
Must I urge them still accept
their elder’s council wise-
who, having made no peace on each,
yet would rule the skies?
Shall I say that it is just,
and they must bow before,
the great, new God of science,
who bows in turn to Thor?
Can I tell them it is best
to sleep, and meekly pray-
and still bring forth the sacrifice
their fathers wait to slay?
Nay, I would tell them quickly
ere they grow on apace
to speak with voice of women
if we would save our race
Oh, I would tell them truly
of a future there might be
when woman, in her awful wrath
calls out from sea to sea;
For it could be a fearful thing-
man tremble thus to see
himself accused, and judgement bear
for her children’s agony
We must surely tell our sisters
now unborn need not die,
if womankind in all the earth
will but take up the cry
That man must use discovery
no more to maim and kill
but hand in hand with woman
his destiny fulfil