Innocence

Innocent smiles of the little children were lost the day

The river nearby went dry and stopped flowing across their village happy and gay.

The children no longer fish nor together they play,

Just wait for their parents to show up from lands so far away.

The trees no longer give the much-wanted shade,

Birds don't want to return to the village again

The little boy next door cried so hard,

when he recently lost his only newborn calf.

Grandmothers no longer cook delicious meals,

All that is left is meager grains from last years saplings.

The little child next door was heard asking the other day,

Why has the rain man not returned to us, why has he gone astray?

Oh, little one we didn't plant trees, we didn't build a home for him to stay...

The child's eye sparkled with hope, "Then let's do it, and make him wait" he said!

Together they set out with their pick axe and spade,

The villagers too joined in when they saw the grandson and grandpa working again,

This time the rain man came to the village and decided to stay,

For he was offered a home wider and deeper for a much longer stay.

The river too came down gurgling and dancing away,

Once again the children smiled as their far off parents returned forever to stay...