Monsters In the Night

when I was little and we hid under the desk to avoid the nuclear burning lights hugging our chests and we thought it was true something safe we could do until later we found it had to be underground then there were fights about whose shelter would survive the night and films of nuclear war grew creatures into earthly and planetary fiends so my stuffed animals surrounded my bed and my dreams then soldiers and strong policemen were saviors and dear now it seems that children have darker dreams the safety and kindness of those men is no longer clear with their cages and wires and lunatic schemes now the monsters are real they come pounding into the night grabbing children from families crying in fright they become lonely and hungry and cold in the darkness shame on us all-- this is not right, my brother was a soldier who fought a true fight he shakes his head in shame for he knows as do his brothers all -- this is not a decent fight that this is cruelty to children and this is not right.