Why is it that we fail to see,

This wealth of human tragedy?

They flee their war torn homes,

Taking only what they can carry,

And their hopes,

Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers,

Old, young, lives unsung.

They walk on tired feet,

Tired souls,

Across strange lands,

Attended only,

By human vultures.

Why is it that we fail to see,

This wealth of human tragedy?

On they go, knowing only

That they risk death

If they stay.

Day after day,

This human crocodile

Heads for the sea,

Fleeing toward safety

They pray.

Attended only,

By human vultures.

Why is it that we fail to see,

This wealth of human tragedy?

The deep blue Mediterranean

Swallows some,

Casting them up

On lonely foreign beaches.

Those that live

To kiss the sand

And find a reticent welcome,

Still have far to go.

Attended only,

By human vultures.

Why is it that we fail to see,

This wealth of human tragedy.

Now it's time for politics,

Bureaucracy,

And cold hard sticks.

"You can't stay here"

"We have no space"

"Go find yourselves,

Another place"

So on they go,

Attended only,

By human vultures.

Why is it that we fail to see,

This wealth of human tragedy.

                                           _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Owain Glyn