Where have all the children gone?

They were pure, little flames, bright and clean,

Now shattered, ripped apart, turned obscene.

Too young, too fast, 

they’re dragged through the dirt,

Their innocence stolen, crushed, and hurt.  

I see them now-

eyes hollow, scared, broken,

Voices lost, words unspoken.

The world’s sick claws, they’ve ripped and tore,

What was sacred, what we fought for- nothing anymore.

I’m somewhat grown, and I’m furious, burning with rage,

Seeing children’s lives ripped from the page.

Their innocence, a bloodied, shattered shell-

What the hell did we do? What the hell fell?  

This world’s a raging, unhinged beast,

Feeding on the innocence, the least.

They’re just like me damaged, betrayed,

Fallen too young, lost and dismayed.