Innocence Lost

I see small children laugh

I see the glow in their eyes

Carefree purity and joy

I see untouched territory

I sigh and wonder

How long til a violation destroys another soul.

I see a torn girl waiting on the train

Her hair is a mess visible scars on her arms

She stumbles over her own bags

I see the lostness in her eyes

She cracks yet a forced smile

I see the scared little girl behind those now darkened eyes

I see an old man staring out the window

Hes waiting once again

Looking for his loved ones

Wondering if his time is done

How shorter are the days and colder are the starless nights

The wrinkles in his face

His hair now turned white

His breathe shortens each day

Hes hope long ago just a dream

How can he erase the pain

If only the chance to do it all again

At least the chance to warn a younger version of him

Sometimes the smile lies

Often the mouth has lost its cry

Life has broken or stolen the glow

How scary is it when time has gone

An lost another unchanted soul.

L. gashi 02/4/22