It’s night outside;
it’s night inside,
do not walk,
do not whisper,
show no light,
nor life.
Helicopter gunships,
flying low,
have infrared eyes
and see you as a ghost.
Man or dog,
make no difference,
machinegun fire,
rockets pulverising ancient walls.

It’s night outside
it’s night inside
do not whisper
do not cry
don’t ask why?
Only silent pray,
to the God of your choice,
for this locust plague to go away,
over the hill,
over the mountain
and into the sea.