Stanza 167


167

The aftermath of the emergency
Is filled with terror and tranquility.
Six weeks elapse and though they pass in peace,
The sorrows of the villagers increase
Each day. They struggle first to dig the graves
And bury all the dead. Unending waves
Of weariness compound exhaustion, which
Already plagues the people as they switch
From fighting fires and enemies to this
New obligation. Near paralysis
Of muscle groups makes motion difficult,
But all make haste because they fear assault.
The infrastructure of the evil foe
Holds while they bathe the bodies, but the flow
Gets slower with the passing of the days.
As weeks go by, the water shortage weighs
On apprehensive minds and fearful hearts
That are resigned to suffer all the arts
Of war the foe will soon administer
To end the lives of every villager.