I Have Seen a Dream. We All Have Gone Insane

I’ve seen a dream. We have all gone insane.
Hypocrisy and lies were long forgotten,
The propaganda stopped, and it was certain
That senseless slaughter won’t return again.

I dreamt some truly simple-hearted fool
Annihilated borders on the planet.
He promised the new order free of tenets
Where common sense would be the only rule.

I dreamt that we forgot about the war,
And there were no more enemies and murders,
No deadly cannon shots, no silly orders:
Just smiling friends across the field, no more.

I dreamt that pain and terror were withdrawn,
And we grew tired of hating our neighbours.
We were enjoying peaceful art and labour.
The kids were laughing in the shining dawn.

I dreamt of no more jailers, no more bars,
Of laws and standards we create and honour.
But I woke up and realized with horror:
It is just nonsense, just a phantom, just a farce.

The Eastern theatre. Winter night would wane.
Entrenchments. Cannonade on the horizon.
At dawn we have to fight for our Kaiser.
I’ve seen a dream. We have all gone insane.