Category Archives: sonnets

Cremer had seen sufficient war losses, Franco-Prussian, Crimean, the Boer War – South Africa, arguing always that the cost was Too great, the excitement and horror all too poor Compensation. To Parliament he spoke then: “The verdict of history is always with the friends Of peace,” and “There is not a man In this HouseContinue reading “1903 – Cremer – 2”

Cremer knew poverty and intolerance well, From England, before their voting rights story. From ‘boiling pitch’ (at 12) to trade rights work his efforts swelled, While constantly he engaged others to freely Work for peace, support the North’s Civil War, And voting rights for men, and arbitration. The International Arbitration League he bore: He didContinue reading “1903 – Sir William Randal Cremer”

Albert Gobat also won the Prize that year. He was Swiss. He trained in law and, later, politics. On issues parliamentary, he had no peer, Though those who knew him called him empiric. From Grand Council of Bern to Council of States he rose, Thus to the International Parliamentary Union, his obsession, And so parliamentariansContinue reading “1902 – Albert Gobat”

“And when the clamour of the battlefield abates,” Said Élie Ducommun in his acceptance speech Upon receiving the Peace Prize, “the labor Of civilization has to begin anew In a world of physical and moral chaos.” As tragic as his statement is, well, true, It reminds us not of rebirth, but of loss: Continuing, “ThisContinue reading “1902 – Ducommun – 2”

Élie Ducommun won the peace prize for his tireless attention To the cause of Peace, throughout his busy workday. In his youth, he wrote for the democratic press, with erudition, Later directing the Swiss railroad, his management talent at play. He helped to found the International League for Peace And Freedom, becoming its journal editor. Continue reading “1902 – Elie Ducommun”

Frederic Passy was called the ‘doyen’- ‘the Elder,’ of his colleagues, Those in global peace studies and arbitration work. Though he Studied law, he much preferred economics and ‘free trade.’ This, he taught, would help Peace flourish:  with money paid By those who embraced the free flow of goods between nations, Unfettered competition, labor andContinue reading “1901 – Frederic Passy”

Alfred Nobel was born into bankruptcy In eastern Sweden, studied chemistry, And languages, in the course of time, Machines of war, submarines, land mines. Experimenting with explosives in His father’s laboratory, nitroglycerine He helped to find, discovering economic worth, Igniting it in caps with porous earth. Nobel created dynamite, of greatest human power, For buildingContinue reading “Nobel”

Nobel’s philosophy was – and was not – of his age, La Belle Époque, when nations stood to rise From both cooperative trade and arbitrage, From both communication and surprise. Nationalism flourished, while proud empires soared. Lambs laid down while restless lions roared. Men – thousands – died in battles for influence’s sake, Their wastedContinue reading “Peace”