Celebrating 50:Viii

Night comes dense As words without meaning here The sun has crossed the ragged fence Of sea licking light from the sky Like a rain Of false allegiance to our faith The frogs are croaking a hoarse complaint Against the endless noise of dogs Proclaiming worth without pedigree And guns are barking everywhere Yet in all this tumult and uproar I hear rinsing darkness The voice of children joined in play And the hope of coming And I washing clouds away with dew of tears Wait faithfully for the dawn.