The Innocents

The Innocents, the Innocents,

They walk alone, or wait,

As beggars in the dark, before

A deaf unopening gate.

They wait and whisper: "Love," one says,

"Love, and the gift of pain

Will sweep the murky waters back

And let men pray again."

The waters of oblivion

Heave, and are tossed with pain

Craving the feet of Innocents

To walk that way again.

The waters of oblivion

Are hungry for a Word:

Then pray again, O Innocents,

Bear witness to the Lord.

"For prayer," one says, "will shout until

It hears the Young Day cry"-

The waters of oblivion

Are shaken with a sigh.

The Young Day dreams, the Young Day wakes,

The bells speak from the tower:

The lighted brows of Innocents

Will guide us in that hour.

The Innocents will march that day

With torches through the town.

The Innocents will laugh, and pull

The toppling prisons down.

The Innocents will weep that day

With blood upon their hands.

The grieving arms of Innocents

Will rock the crying lands.