They climbed up on the hill and saw

A view they had not known before.

The land was green, the sky was blue;

The waves lapped gently on the shore.

But then a darkened cloud approached

And from it boomed the thunder’s roar.

 

The rain poured down, the lightning flashed,

The storm’s infernal uproar crashed.

All neighbourhood was washed away;

By dawn, their best-laid plan was dashed.

They shifted debris, ashen-faced;

A fragile heritage was smashed.

 

Dejectedly, they sat and stared;

The damage could not be repaired.

The scene would come to symbolise

A world where few stood up or cared.

For close by, in the easy haunts,

Such tragedies will not be shared.