Ballads of Peace in War

THE PHILOSOPHERS

    But the children are the wise men,
    With the clearest heart and mind;
    If two and one are three, they say,
    Then truth is near to find;
    If this be now that once was not,
    If things must have a cause,
    Then very simple is the sum
    That God is in His laws.

    The world's men that are fools enough,
    They will not speak that way,
    But with a cloud of muddled thought
    They hide the light of day;
    Yet laughing words and candid truth
    Abide by field and hall,
    Where the best of true philosophers
    Are the children, after all.