Where have they gone?
Wide eyed innocent faces
Suddenly replaced with hostile gazes,
Playing tricks and putting on--
These so called sweet lads
With foul mouth and tongue:
Fresh faced, agile and young
Struggle to keep up with changing fads
Speak angry words for no apparent reason
Who are these wannabe thugs
Hiding behind facades unplugged
Giving way to this open season...
And who forgot to tell
These young ears are not safe
The targets of fire and strafe,
Of this image we can not dispel?
Common sense is a thing of old,
Lost to these young minds
Precious lives wasted, but reminds
Of bodies lying cold.

References

1. Marcus Bleasdale. "Child Soldiers". Human Rights Watch. 2013