From the Hatbox
©ESR 2005

We once were children
laughing and playing
on swings and jungle gyms
the world was our oyster
though we never cared
except games and flowers

Atom bombs go off
just next to the field
cops chase a drugee
around a tire swing

 Under the swings
were we held on
and pushed ourselves to the sky
lay used needles and angel dust
from our once pure wings

We once were children
nothing mattered but
laughing and playing

Now we play dodgeball with bullets
Dealing with society’s double edge blade
Priest can’t be trusted, teachers sleep with students
our fellow peers shoot in rampage

It’s hard to remember
our laughter so young
but please remember
We once were children
daughters and sons.