We live where streets are stained with blood
And even where the grass is green
A soldier’s body paid for us
To breathe the air of freedom’s sheen
Look down, look down; behold your feet
One in the cradle, one the grave
Look up; look up, for only He
Is God and mighty yet to save
The gutters swell with evil’s flood
Where hatred, hurt and hunger wail
A brother spills his brother’s blood
It seems the gates of hell prevail
We stagger low beneath the grief
Of
Ramah; here our children die
Before they breathe; their right to live
Decided by a 'mercy-lie'
The roar of guns deploys its noise
The river runs dark and blood-red
Daughter or son is everyone
And love will mourn her precious dead
For love, this universal thread
Will bind and heal hate’s wretched wounds
Look down, look down, there lies our dread
Look up, look up, His love abounds
We live where streets are stained with blood
And gutters surge with filth and fear
We live where our forefathers stood
To face the Foe; love brought us here
And hate can never slay the One
Look up; someday hate will be done
But Love will never, ever fail
© Janet Martin