Childish Things

Children, ah, children

- the hope of us all;

I’ve watched them die,

or sicken and crawl

on African plains

under carrion birds’ eyes

while uncaring politicians

postured and lied.

I’ve seen them fleeing

from war birds’ dives,

dodging and scrambling

in fear of their lives.

I’ve seen them take

a few lives of their own,

wielding a weapon

as if they were grown...

Or hurl a grenade

with murderous aim

as though engaged

in some deadly game

where the object was

to slaughter and maim,

and not amusement,

applause, or fame.

They’ll turn themselves

into walking bombs

and become ‘martyrs’

in order to harm

people they shouldn't

be old enough to hate…

On such shoulders

rests our ultimate fate.

How did we permit

such a huge culture gap?

what can we do before

it all comes unwrapped

and leads to the long-

promised fiery end -

Something as simple

as truly being friends?

©Thurman P. Woodfork 17 March 2004

Iraqi Orphans ~ U.S. Army photo by Spec. Joshua M. Risner