Who killed mankind?
“I” said his ghost, “my greed helped the most,
I killed mankind.”
Who saw him die?
“I”, said despair, “be sure I was there,
I saw him die.”
Who caught his blood?
“I”, said poor earth, “for I knew its worth,
I caught his blood.”
Who’ll make his shroud?
“I”, said the smoke, “though he won’t see the joke,
I’ll make his shroud.”
Who’ll dig his grave?
“I”, said the bomb, with appalling aplomb,
I’ll dig his grave.”
Who’ll be the parson?
“I”, said the fire, “it’s my dying desire,
I’ll be the parson.”
Who’ll bear his pall?
“I”, said the breeze, “I’ll bear it with ease,
I’ll bear his pall.”
Who’ll toll the bell?
“Love”, roared the thunder, “did you think He would blunder?
Love will toll the bell.”
All the works of creation
Felt a crying desolation
When they heard of the death
Of every nation,
When they heard of the death
Of every nation.
(October
1972)
