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