A friend sent the followng , which seems fit for Mudcat reflection.

Dear Friends,

Yesterday was the anniversary of the birth of the great ancient Greek tragedian Euripedes. He was born in 480BCE. I love Euripedes and his work for many reasons. He profoundly felt the pain of the world and wrote plays to expose and protest that pain. In a world dominated by the abuses of power, by greed and conquest, he raised a lone voice against the abuse of women and children. In a world run on the backs of slaves, his was a lone cry against slavery. And in a world drenched in war, he challenged his people, and all of us for all times, to awaken to war's awful cost and unending pain.

In honor of his day of birth, and in this time of war and violence and of gathering clouds, I send you this prayer Euripedes penned for an end to war, from one who truly knew its cost.

From ERECHTHEUS by Euripedes


Let my spear lie idle for spiders
to weave their web around it.
May I live in peace in white old age.
May I sing with garlands around my white head,
having hung up my Thracian shield
on the pillared house of Athena.
May I unfold the voice of books,
Which the wise honor.

Regards,

A