august morning villanelle

so long a silence covers up much pain

we can rejoice but we must still recall

this sun of freedom rises through the rain

why they were taken we need not explain

for weight of shadows on us casts a pall

so long a silence covers up much pain

of those who suffered for other folks’ gain

whose battered bodies hung against the wall

this sun of freedom rises through the rain

and still we dance our every hope made plain

elsewhise we’d stoop and crouch and bend and bawl

so long a silence covers up much pain

they won their battle and their long campaign

whose time of servitude was not so small

this sun of freedom rises through the rain

with words of justice sung in no wild strain

by men and women proudly standing tall

so long a silence covers up much pain

this sun of freedom rises through the rain