Open to Us a Brighter Day

Sorrow hid my soul in night

Grief, the bitter fruit of me

And all the woes of earth drew near

As I sat beneath the Banyan tree.

Laughter, music, beauty gone,

Hate and war and genocide

Engulfed the world and human tears

Formed rivers of pain when honour died.

The arts were made a mockery

Of twisted passions and human greed,

Lust ruled the continents of man

And sown in earth the demon seed

Flourished as evil's reign began.

There was no hope and few did hear

The voice of sages who could see

The end of darkness drawing near.

My offering not strong enough

I wept and prayed to no avail

But then I heard a flute-like sound

And knew creation would not fail

For One had come to lift again

The fallen spirit and to slay

The demon forces in their lair

And open to us a brighter day.