Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday I was walking
Through the streets of Livermore
I met a man who said he'd lived
In Rotterdam during the war
"Yeah," he said, "I heard the sirens
Went to the cellar
When the bombs started coming
Something gave and something fell
And I was trapped there underground
And no one around to hear me calling
Well, I've never been a man
Who had much use for prayer"
he said, "Imagine the unholy thoughts
I had down there."

Church bells were ringing
And the sun came through the clouds
In those long misty rays
I said, "So how did you get out?"
He said, "It was a miracle
But on the third day
The army of occupation
Rolled the stones away
But damned if my rescuers
Didn't take me prisoner
Of war, and use me for the dirty work
Of digging graves
And searching the ruined city
For more souls to save."

On Easter Sunday I was walking…

©1995 Annie Gallup