No.42

Across the Hills

Leon Rosselson

Across the hills black clouds are sweeping,

Carry poison far and wide,

And the grass has blackened underfoot,

And the rose has withered and died.

But the rose is still as red, love, and the grass is still as green,

And it must have been a shadow in the distance you have seen,

Yes, it must have been a shadow you have seen.

But can't you hear the children weeping?

Can't you hear the mournful sound?

And no birds sing in the twisted trees

In the silent streets around.

I can hear the children laughing in the streets as they play,

And you must have caught the dying of an acho far away,

Yes, it must have been an echo far away.

But can't you see the white ash falling

From the hollow of the skies?

And the blood runs red down the blackened walls

Where a ruined city lies.

I can see the red sun shining in the park on the stream,

And you must have felt a shiver from the darkness of a dream,

Yes, it must have been the darkness of a dream.

But the rose is still as red, love, and the grass is still as green,

And death shall reap a hellish harvest,

Yes, the rose is still as red, love, and the grass is still as green,

Make a desert of this land.

And it must have been a shadow you have seen.

-o0o-