Category Archives: sonnets

Wilson’s prize was awarded in ’20, with Bourgeois,’ The League of Nation’s President, an equipoise. Bourgeois had stopped a coup d’etat in France As Paris’ Chief of Police. He later advanced To Secretary of State. He brought about social reforms From within, embracing human rights norms: A minimum wage, education, unemployment, Sick, accident and retirementContinue reading “1920 – Leon Victor Auguste Bourgeois”

“It would be the irony of fate if my Administration had to do chiefly with foreign affairs,” Said Wilson before he became President. Why, Then Fate struck. He was first abroad, aware Of the war’s desperate pull, and the need to act influentially. Yet his efforts to remain neutral were given the sting When theContinue reading “1919 – Thomas Woodrow Wilson”

Even before the war broke out, the Red Cross Was busy developing new ways to aid those in need During wartime, and had, as well, set up an office To deal with prisoners of war, by particular deeds: To identify who they were, where, and what Their requirements were for support of all kinds, ToContinue reading “1917 – The International Committee of the Red Cross”

As World War I’s grueling progress killed, Another killer stalked its prey more silently, Infecting 500 million globally, its will Reaped the lives of 50 million, easily. It is now believed to have begun around The year 1915 in North America. Carried to Europe’s war fronts, it stunned The young! Media limited word of itsContinue reading “1914-1919 – World War I, #4”

The Peace of Versailles was a mixed bag of terms, they said, The nations defeated could not un-do their dead, In particular, Germany was in chaos and thoroughly vanquished. The peace plan claimed not to exercise any vengeance, But compromises included, for many, too great a loss. Land losses were hard, but worse was theContinue reading “1914-1919 – World War I, #3”

Thus did the Serbs’ small seeds of unrest blossom Into a devastation at sea, a flotsam Of British cruisers sunk by German U-boats. Torpedoes – new and improved – were used to smote The ‘enemy,’ their neighbors. Mines, also known as The ‘cowardly weapon,’ were laid (breaking rules) in the North Sea, Bringing danger toContinue reading “1914-1919 – World War I, #2”

In World War I, eight million were killed within The space of five years, and you ask how it began. With just one death; some say, it took just one To begin to undo the work that had been done For Peace.  So let this story be instructive: A Serb killed the Austrian prince. ThatContinue reading “1914-1919 – World War I”

La Fontaine, in Brussels well-bred, embraced The peace movement early. Ridiculed for his taste, He persevered, dragging others and the broad law toward Policies of peace in education, women’s rights and forward – As a Socialist, believing that worldwide association In all areas held the key to eventual cooperation. To this end, he founded theContinue reading “1913 – Henry La Fontaine”

Elihu Root, the U.S. Secretary of War, Did much for Peace in that capacity, And also as Secretary of State, by arbitrating for Peace. His position was that nations should treat Others with nobler intentions than ‘colonial powers’ Had been doing abroad from Europe for many years, While he faced critique that ‘having America asContinue reading “1912 – Elihu Root”

“1900, the social century, the century of Peace, Your pioneers salute you,” wrote Fried that Millennium Day. By his life’s end, World War I had recently ceased, And he was selling his letters in Vienna, for food – to pay. Fried, a Jew, was born in Vienna and moved to Germany Where he started aContinue reading “1911 – Alfred Hermann Fried”