The children

Upon the street they lie

Beside the broken stone:

The blood of children stares from the broken stone.

Death came out of the sky

In the bright afternoon:

Darkness slanted over the bright afternoon.

Again the sky is clear

But upon earth a stain:

The earth is darkened with a darkening stain:

A wound which everywhere

Corrupts the hearts of men:

The blood of children corrupts the hearts of men.

Silence is in the air:

The stars move to their places:

Silent and serene the stars move to their places:

But from earth the children stare

With blind and fearful faces:

And our charity is in the children's faces.