The Christian coin—
embossed with a dove and sword—
is not wasted by war,
rather it thrives on it
and should be tossed into the sea for the fish
to eye it as it falls
past the clutching fingers
of children—
for them to eye it
and sing, join in a choir
to rival the land and set
coral branches swaying:
Peace, peace to the oceans,
the dread hurricanes die,
ice melt at the poles
and sharks be at rest!
as it drops, lost, to its grave.

The William Carlos Williams Reader The William Carlos Williams Reader