Life — March 28, 1912 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains "Ode to Cowardice" by Arthur Guiterman, a satirical poem attacking pacifism and anti-war sentiment during what appears to be the World War I era. The poem mocks peace advocates by addressing "Cowardice" directly, sarcastically praising figures like Flaccus (a historical Roman), Augustus Caesar, and references to modern figures including Roosevelt, Taft, and Skibo's laird (likely Andrew Carnegie). The satire targets pacifists by suggesting that those advocating peace are cowardly rather than principled. It specifically ridicules modern "singers" and "poets" who write pacifist verses (referencing Horatian poetry), implying their anti-war positions are cowardly and self-serving rather than genuinely moral. The poem defends military courage and sacrifice as superior values.