Grey the Shadow Has Laid Wales 1966

Grey the shadow has laid Shoes are scattered buckles undone Quite still the ball with which children played In quiet corners the clocks hands don’t run Chuckles sounded a happy day was made Toy boxes in past times a wondrous scene Clay models squeezed to shape in small hands Books pens and paint brushes water soaked clean Some glued paper with stuck coloured sands A blackboard with chalk its white letters to be seen The end of play bell had sound its saddening ring Some counting was practiced at the front of the class Some children at the piano with the teacher sing But it isn’t the wind which rattles the glass Outside the rain fell frozen too hail winter to bring That grey shadow dealing death in its wake What was the guardian doing that day In silence and stillness bleeding fingers would rake When so many loved ones were taken away To listen for a voice a needed sound to make 22/9/21. Contest quintain Sicilian. Emile Pinet