kites fly

kites fly

hungry boys look on

they have no dreams

they have no homes

kites fly

taking the smiles

of deformed children

high up

and out of reach

of little hands

kites fly

as dreams too scared

look out of

sunken eyes

helpless

kites fly

they know not

that childhood can be fun

in other parts of the world

kites fly

while they of clipped wings

look on

and drag their drooping shoulders

and defeated faces

back to work

kites fly

while childhood bleeds away

like a wound unnoticed

till too late

kites fly

and I sit without tears in my eyes

for no one cries for them

fountain of youth

he saw his first fountain today
he seemed pensive
quietly watching
the droplets shower
around him

he dropped a penny into the pool
his little fingers closing around the
copper piece till
his father leaned him
over the edge and nudged
the coin into the water
and as it gently floated
to the bottom
made a wish:

eternal happiness

for the little person snuggled up
on his shoulder,
now smiling