Are These Our Children

Light a candle
say a prayer
for all those children
suffering.

streets are busy
traffic moves fast
no time to listen
no time to care.

doorways filled
to the brim
with bags of clothing
bodies, stiff and still.

syringes and needles
lie everywhere
careful or careless
no one cares.

what happened?
to these kids of ours
tossed like dung
to fend for themselves.

drugs, violence
have filled their lives
no jobs, no prospects
no end in sight.

light a candle
say a prayer
for all those children
suffering.