The child that from the corpse-heap rose br Nursed by the light of faces in horror br From the stumbling-on of devil’s ditch; br Dredged of swamp and covered in ash br The cripples of the wire, now linked in arms br Hit out in extinction’s fury, as locusts razed the fields br Where grass and fruit-trees shadowed the sand br Schools and play-pens built and ruined – br And barren homeland smeared with flowers. br br The children spread, their brothers met in cities br Where newly-starred and ancient pushed for place; br In unalikeness found they middle-men to rule br In common proclamation, raising blue eyes to a heaven br Where phantom faultless ghetto fighters br Blazed ignorance of 'insects' they trod among br Spread nets against the honeyed hives of kings br That gave no home to brothers all. br br In nation’s mantles grew they, lonely – br Dust-loosened clothes they wore like wire br And, huddled in victorious despair br Their knowledge was of history, necessity – br Security of encampment and maligned. br Ministers spread the word of unanimity br And choked with new gospel the intruder br Who, in all but history equal, deaf to definition, br Destroyer with incitement became. br br The child of wrinkled face, pitted by oasis br Held weary monologue with common aged; br Scarred by colour and distinction-blind br Eyelids smeared in chemical blood – br And walked the child with stinging feet the ghetto br And tripped on rocks and signs painted “garden”.