There were three men when grey dawn broke
That walked in a sad wood.
There were three Solemn Men who spoke
No speech I understood.
The singings of the singing birds
In lorn beaks were subdued.
There was a grief enchained the herds
That beat this bourneless wood.
One Man was Moses. Lo! he struck
A grim stone with his rod.
There was no living fount that shook
From the far wells of God!
One Man was Christ. Around His head
The jagged thorns were keen.
But all the blood His body shed
Made not the foul world clean.
One Man was Everyman. He went
Blank-eyed to the dark mesh.
One Man was Everyman that rent
From his own bones his flesh.
No boon hath Moses rendered, nor
Shall Christ His bleeding cease.
For swift as Peace hath stifled War,
Huge War hath stifled Peace.