Better To Not Go Out and Play

There was a time when I felt grass under my feet
But that all changed Christmas last
They came screaming and finished with a blast
My father shielding as best he could.

Others carried my father out
His trip permanent and quite some way
My mother said it would be all okay, but
Better to not go out and play.

Walking became our day, but at night
out of the heat of the day
My feet became my shoes
and the water was dirty unless rain blessed our plight.

Food came in bits and pieces
And rats and mice became my companions
As my mother said, it was
Better to not go out and play.

My soccer ball was flat
Softened by a bullet that went astray
But my brother wanted a game
And hey he was not to blame.

The explosion was of a landmine
My brother lost the game
We all will cry forever, but
Better to not go out and play

We have trudged over one thousand miles
And now shelter within a crumbled home
Some walls and roof remain, but still
Better to not go out and play

My mother staggers now, but goes on
To places we do not know, but one day
I hope we find a place
We can all go out and play.