I wrote this poem a while back, inspired by a caption of an online photo that depicted children surrounded by the devastation in the wake of Katrina. The caption noted how these children had been forced to grow up too soon and it got me to thinking...

Children of the Storms

I'm thinking of all the children
Who grew too old too fast
Who lost their only childhood
When the wind and rain swept past

Their parents wearing modest clothes
They could not slake their thirst
And were forced to sacrifice their bonds
By putting them on choppers first

Many are lost
and many have cried
Their homes are broken
And some have died

I'm thinking of all the children
Their hearts full of high ideals
To make the world a safer place
By curing all its ills

Their parents wearing uniforms
They could not keep them whole
Or channel their bright virtue
To achieve a righteous goal

Many are lost
and many have cried
Their bones are broken
And some have died

I'm thinking of all the children
Who haven't grown up still
Who thought to bring salvation
You need to hate and kill

Their parents wearing pinstripes
Made weapons from their sickles
Protecting them from God's own truth
And bribing them with nickels

Many are lost
and many have cried
Their souls are broken
And some have died

Now there comes a time to be a child
And a time to defend your land
And a time to grow in wisdom
And as an adult stand

But when the times are all mixed up
Then love cannot keep pace
And all the many storms that rise
Will make the world a dreadful place.