PEACE


The tempest calmed after bending the branches of the trees and
leaning heavily upon the grain in the field. The stars appeared
as broken remnants of lightning, but now silence prevailed over
all, as if Nature's war had never been fought.

At that hour a young woman entered her chamber and knelt by
her bed sobbing bitterly. Her heart flamed with agony but she
could finally open her lips and say, "Oh Lord, bring him home
safely to me. I have exhausted my tears and can offer no more,
oh Lord, full of love and mercy. My patience is drained and
calamity is seeking possession of my heart. Save him, oh Lord,
from the iron paws of War; deliver him from such unmerciful
Death, for he is weak, governed by the strong. Oh Lord, save
my beloved, who is Thine own son, from the foe, who is Thy
foe. Keep him from the forced pathway to Death's door; let him
see me, or come and take me to him."

Quietly a young man entered. His head was wrapped in bandage
soaked with escaping life.

He approached he with a greeting of tears and laughter, then
took her hand and placed against it his flaming lips. And with
a voice with bespoke past sorrow, and joy of union, and uncertainty
of her reaction, he said, "Fear me not, for I am the object of your
plea. Be glad, for Peace has carried me back safely to you, and
humanity has restored what greed essayed to take from us. Be not
sad, but smile, my beloved. Do not express bewilderment, for Love
has power that dispels Death; charm that conquers the enemy. I
am your one. Think me not a spectre emerging from the House of
Death to visit your Home of Beauty.

"Do not be frightened, for I am now Truth, spared from swords
and fire to reveal to the people the triumph of Love over War.
I am Word uttering introduction to the play of happiness and
peace."

Then the young man became speechless and his tears spoke the
language of the heart; and the angels of Joy hovered about
that dwelling, and the two hearts restored the singleness
which had been taken from them.

At dawn the two stood in the middle of the field contemplating
the beauty of Nature injured by the tempest. After a deep
and comforting silence, the soldier said to his sweetheart,
"Look at the Darkness, giving birth to the Sun." 

Kalhil Gibran

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"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." -Walter Winchell