Baby clouds fade into
the dark midday sky

Ruminating on
the abandoned
wasteland below

I wonder if the clouds
noticed children
playing in the ruins?

I wonder if the world noticed?

Echoes of war mute
all signs of life. Only
children make an attempt

What if the world
saw them in the heart
of the destruction?

Would reactions be
powerful enough to
soften hardened souls

To finally protect the
innocent long enough
to clear away the rubble

We all know the answer
As do the clouds

We have seen the children
No longer playing
No longer living

And the rubble remains