The Gunman

There are gunshots firing. Soldiers continuously dying. Local people that have done no harm Are suddenly filled with dreading alarm. By the very end of the twinkling stars and the night, The whole village has been set alight Some have been taken. Those left behind are still shaken. The only thing making them glad they’ve survived Are the tears in their family’s eyes. A child inside hunches over his school desk, Strangely oblivious to the whole mess. He’s so wrapped up in his own tasks That when morning rolls in, he forgets to ask Where his parents are. But a child can only follow a thought so far. So when someone comes and puts a gun in his hand, All he thinks he can do is agree with the man. 17/11/17 Child Soldiers is a huge problem in the world today, especially in the continent of Africa.They're forced to take part in wars and conflicts, forced to kill, and commit other acts of violence.Others are used as cooks, porters, messengers, informants, spies, basically anything their commanders want them to do. Child soldiers are also often sexually abused.They can be recruited by state or non-state armed forces and are usually forced away from their family. It's a horrible and cruel thing going on in the world which needs to be addressed and dealt with in some way. Hopefully this poem will raise a little bit of awareness. I know it's not very much in the grand scheme of things, but it's all I can do and at least it's better than nothing.