The Frightened Child

I looked into the eyes of the frightened child

Sitting on the road as bullets flew

And bursting bombs fell on his village home.

A shuddering such as I had never seen

Racked his tiny frame as he held his knees

And it shook me as I saw the fear in him

No child, no soul should ever bear or know.

(Black heart of man in whom such evil lives!)

As if sorrow grew upon a hollow reed

And called the wind to sing its threnody,

I saw him sway in horror and I was crushed;

The marrow in my bones seemed to cry;

I was shaken then and I am shaken now.