Innocent Young Minds

Innocent young lives abruptly changed When brutal war arrived at their doorsteps, Turning makeshift shelters into their abodes As bombs ruined neighborhoods and roads. Delicate young souls understood very little When living became a pile of torn-up rubble Bearing no likeness to what once was normal As look of disgust occupied entire existence. Fear transformed into acceptance of cruelty As supplies for meek survival became a rarity. Where innocence once lived anger took hold When virgin-minds became angry soldiers. Rescue never came, turning anger into hate As grief became despair at a very young age. Without basic care, disease reigned misery Dissipating young minds into hapless calamity. If wisdom gains vitality, hope will rise again And compassion will illuminate world stage. From ashes of nightmare, can dreams originate Holding a toy of joy, like children of their age? February 11, 2018 Placed first in standard contest 165 by Brian Strand