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Text
The Children
English source:
William Soutar
Upon the street they lie
Beside the broken stone:
The blood of children stares from the broken stone.
Death came out of the sky
In the bright afternoon:
Darkness slanted over the bright afternoon.
Again the sky is clear
But upon earth a stain:
The earth is darkened with a darkening stain:
A wound which everywhere
Corrupts the hearts of men:
The blood of children corrupts the hearts of men.
Silence is in the air:
The stars move to their places:
Silent and serene the stars move to their places.
Beside the broken stone:
The blood of children stares from the broken stone.
Death came out of the sky
In the bright afternoon:
Darkness slanted over the bright afternoon.
Again the sky is clear
But upon earth a stain:
The earth is darkened with a darkening stain:
A wound which everywhere
Corrupts the hearts of men:
The blood of children corrupts the hearts of men.
Silence is in the air:
The stars move to their places:
Silent and serene the stars move to their places.
Composer
James MacMillan
Sir James Loy MacMillan, CBE (b. 1959) is a Scottish classical composer and conductor.
Poet
William Soutar
William Soutar was a Scottish poet from Perthshire.
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Poet of Freedom 15 Oct 2023
- 27. The Sound of Silence: Benjamin Appl & Sholto Kynoch 14 Oct 2020