Grey Clouds
Silence rises from the womb
of the night
haunting
reassuring
grey clouds gather over the Delta
the guffaws of guns have stilled
the shadows of militant men
have shortened from sight
the child no longer cries
its mother cowers no more
father tries a smile empty of fears
dawn will tell us
that after the blood of the slain natives
has dried up on the face of coarse earth
that laughter is the wine
which mellows the sorrows of past nights