The shadow moved across the sun
And turned my world a pallid grey
The tide of mourning had begun
And then I saw the children play
They did not soothe my aching grief
They did not make the burden light
But as they played, I felt relief
A candle glowing in my night
The steady rain began to fall
And washed the poison from death’s sting
A sea of faces paid respect
And then I heard the children sing
They did not take my loss away
They did not turn the bitter sweet
But as they sang, I glimpsed a ray
A cycle turning, now complete
The rumbling storm brought lashing hail
Like pounding fists upon my heart
My anger rose to howling gale
And then I heard the children laugh
They did not dry my veil of tears
They did not make my dark skies blue
But as they laughed, I took a breath
And gained the strength to start anew
— Wayne Visser