A Child Is A Child

Here little one, let me hold you to me

I know you don’t understand what war can be.

It’s hard to understand your mother in a war

Especially when you are only three or four.

I know you don’t understand a word I say

I’ll hold you here with me and for you I’ll pray.

Go ahead and cry little one, it’s o.k.

If only I understood the words you are trying to say.

Sit here with me little one upon my knee

Let me try and comfort you, I know the one you want isn’t me.

I think I have some chocolate here in my shirt

Let’s you and I share it, let me wipe away the dirt.

A little girl of only three or four

Caught up in the misery of a war.

A little shirt is all she has to wear

A little dirty face and black matted hair.

Finding you here standing by your mothers side

I don’t know how long you have stood there and cried.

Charlie did a job on the village where you live

To have not had this happen what I wouldn’t give.

Come on little one, let’s you and I sit behind the tree

We can look at God’s sky and all the beauty to see.

Sure, lay your little head on my shoulder and sleep

Just seeing you like this makes me weep.

RTO, call Battalion and tell them what we need

Tell them to send out someone to care for her and to do a good deed.

No, we won’t be leaving until someone comes to take this little one

Tell them she is too little for any of us to shun.

Quite little one, lay your head back on my arm

As long as I can hold you, you will come to no harm.

Tell them we aren’t leaving until there is help is on the way

Tell them I really don’t care what they have to say.

Just rest now little one, don’t worry about a thing

A chopper will soon come and help for you they will bring.

This is it little one, they are here to care for you

I know this isn’t much but it’s the best I can do.

©David R. Alexander

April 9, 2003

All Rights Reserved

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