Poetry Thursday: Screwtape II

Rose's summary of The Screwtape Letters in five poems. Today, the second poem.

Oh my dear Wormwood, what you say is naïve.
A war doesn’t hurt but helps people believe!

Now they have causes for which they can fight
And the Enemy doesn’t care if they’re right.

“As long as they try.” That’s what He’ll say.
So take great care how you catch your prey.

Make him fear for the future and long for the past
And not in the least, though it comes last

Make him hate the Germans with such a passion
That it goes far beyond whatever’s in fashion

Most of his friends hate ideas not the man.
They’ll help out an injured German if they can.

Let it not be for him but for woman and child
That his pure beliefs are so horribly defiled.

It it’s his own enemy he must forgive,
But he only hates so the weak can live.

So just do what I say and you’ll be in great shape.
Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape