Reign of Tears

The tears of the nation
Fell like rain
Until the lakes became seas
And the rivers poison
Until salt rime
Clogged every creek

So long as the people cried
They lived in their fears
They lived with their losses
Bemoaning the fate
Which had befallen them
Paralyzed with grief

Until some stood
To wipe away the bitterness
From puffy eyes, and begin the work
Of rebuilding a nation
Spreading small smiles with every triumph
Until the reign of tears ended