The best, as far as I'm concerned
Jim Carroll

Grey October
By The Critics Group

Grey October in Glamorgan,
High pitheaps where the houses stand –
Fog in the valley, backshift ending.
Children awaken in Aberfan.

Warm October in Thai Binh Province
Huts of bamboo and rattan,
Sun comes up, repair gangs stop
And children waken in Thui Dan.

Pithead hooter sounds from Merthyr,
Load the coal in the waiting trams;
Shoot the slag down the high pit heap
While children eat in Aberfan.

Oxcarts rattle down Thai Binh Highway
Work begins on the broken land,
Night's work ended, the roadway's mended,
Children eat in Thui Dan.

Dai Dan Evans grabs his satchel,
Michael Jones his bread and jam,
Five to nine and the school bell ringing
Time for school in Aberfan.

School bell ringing, children running,
Down by the river and across the dam,
Hot sun burning, time for learning
Time for school in Thui Dan.

Lessons start in Pantglas Junior
Through the fog a black wave ran,
Under the weight of the man-made mountain
Children die in Aberfan.

Lessons start in the Thai Binh schoolhouse
And another day began, Bombers fly in the morning sky
And children die in Thui Dan.

Tears are shed for Glamorgan children –
And the world mourns Aberfan:
But who will weep for the murdered children
Under the rubble of Thui Dan ?

Grey October in Glamorgan,
Warm October in Vietnam
There children die - while we stand by
And shake the killer by the hand.