Since I’ve been back
life hasn’t been the same.
I see children playing happily
and all I can think of
is the world they’re growing up in.
It’s not happy.
It’s not good.
This is an evil world.
They laugh at one another,
call out funny insults.
“You’re a meanie-head!”
“Well...”
a little girl with pigtails
struggles
to formulate an appropriate response,
“you’re a ****-face!”
They play games on monkey bars,
run from each other.
They are innocent,
ignorant.
They have no idea
the horror that awaits.
I wonder fo them
how many will go on
to see true evil?
To perform it?
To encompass the intrinsic definition?
How many will go on
to see what I have?
To hold a child’s hand
while they bleed out?
How many will
actually find happiness,
maybe never even understand
what I know exists.
I hope for their sakes
that’s how it is.

They continue to live in
ignorance.
Innocence.