LAMENT

When the night goes dark,
all glowing wild eyes dimmed and dead;
When the forest goes silent
of song and cry and roar
and there is only the creaking
of trees moved by the empty rush of wind;
When flowers no longer hum
with the dancing bee;
When the sky is bleak of wings
that glitter and crackle
or suddenly rattle or
softly beat the air;
When water is wild and foul
and dry dust bakes unsheltered
from the sightless sun;
When the heart of humanity
is broken with loneliness and shame,
saying and knowing,
We had the warnings,
We had the time–
We could have done
so many things…

CL Redding July 2015