vigil

little children 

from the village 

come to the mawas

for a splash in the midday heat

their little fair limbs

beat the waves

jumping up and going down

joys of childhood !

i watch from my window

and pray for this generation

and the next and next

let them have their childhood

oh lord!

i sense a moment 

over my shoulder

there he stands

looking ahead

above my head 

across the mawas

in to the woods

over the mountain

keeping a vigil

for the bears 

that roam around

and waylay little children

of the village 

********