The Chrysalids (pp. 73-74)

Pray, pray, pray God for charity,

Pray, pray, pray God to restore prosperity,

Produced a defilement, so they said,

Pray, pray, pray God.


Damned, damned, damned by all,

Damned, damned, damned to fall,

Blasphemy, shame upon thee!

Damned, damned, damned.


Sins, sins, sins met,

Sins, sins, sins and regret,

You have sinned, woman, search your heart,

Sins, sins, sins.


Shame, shame, shame –go die in the river,

Shame, shame, shame – too cold to shiver,

Whip for the woman, Fringes for the child,

Shame, shame, shame.


Out of prayers, former friends closing in,

Through leaves and bush to escape sin,

Closed mind, hate for the different,

Pale, ghostly corpse on a river shore.