Wednesday, 20 July 2022

The Waters of Babylon

 

The Waters of Babylon

 

Why from the greatest pain the sweetest music sounds?

It’s in the soul’s extremes the finest beauty’s found.

The mother’s tears, the widow’s loss, the child’s lament

Have such intensity that only beauty gives a vent.

In oppressive nations the same truth is found.

The harshest gross injustice gives the sweetest sound.

Within the confines of the slave the blues spring forth

And from the tears of Erin haunting melodies have birth.

O Lord why must we weep before we make our song?

And why does beauty need a foil of such a wrong?

 

Peter M. Grinham 5th June 2008

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