Make bright the arrows
Gather the shields:
Conquest narrows
The peaceful fields.
Stock well the quiver
With arrows bright:
The bowman feared
Need never fight.
Make bright the arrows,
O peaceful and wise!
Gather the shields
Against surprise.
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Millay was very anti-war, I believe the brightness of the arrows signifies a shield to deflect the enemy rather than to be used as a weapon to force the enemy to back away or not be able to see because of the brightness of those arrows. Much of the poets work is anti war, God and about her broken heart. Very depressing.