A POEM FOR OUR TIMES BY RICHARD BERENGARTEN
Painting by Gillian Ayres, Cambridge
The death of children
It is the death of children most offends
nature and justice. No use asking why.
What justice is, nobody comprehends.
What punishment can ever make amends?
There’s no pretext, excuse or alibi.
It is the death of children most offends.
Whoever offers arguments pretends
to read fate’s lines. Although we must swear by
what justice is, nobody comprehends
how destiny or chance weaves. Who defends
their motives with fair reasons tells a lie.
It is the death of children most offends.
Death can’t deserve to reap such dividends
from these, who scarcely lived, their parents cry.
What justice is, nobody comprehends.
Bring comfort then, and courage. Strangers, friends,
are we not all parents when children die?
What justice is, nobody comprehends.
It is the death of children most offends.
from The Blue Butterfly
