A picture is worth a thousand words - 1/22/2022

Picture prompt shared by @freewritehouse taken from Pixabay

And what did they say?
Children were left playing wild outside the gates
Such fun and boisterous scene was
once life back in the days
But you can hardly spot a child's shadow
now playing outside all day

What changed?
Maybe it's something in the air, or—
human hearts, they say
We've grown to be weary of
the dangers at bay
Lurking around the corner,
masking behind the smiley face
Some looks seem so inviting but
are they mere cosplay?

Sometimes the happiest places in a memory
lie the deepest darkest secrets
Some hide them well than others,
but many are dying to tell
Is there somebody listening,
would they ever care?
Hurt is a painful teacher,
and oftentimes when we look inside—
We see a little child staring from outside the window,
tapping ever so lightly
wishing someone would take them in
and love them well.