The child who hides behind laughter <br />The child who reaches out with tears <br />The child who no one looks after <br />Who runs away when someone nears <br /> <br />Never got a mamma’s “spit bath” <br />Never danced on daddy’s toes <br />No one to ever help with math <br />No wall marks to show how he grows <br /> <br />Amplified loneliness music <br />Hollow echoes of lack of sound <br />Ears strain to hear a doorknob click <br />Rooms and hearts waiting to be found <br /> <br />The lonely ache of nothingness, <br />A much deeper hurt than the pain <br />Of a hard hand’s angry caress - <br />Storms: they beat clouds that never rain. <br /> <br />God, fill their dark, unquiet nights <br />With brave, beautiful, dancing dream. <br />Let them meet smiles, inspiring lights, <br />Though from strangers’ faces they stream. <br /> <br />Home won’t protect them, nurture them <br />So, God, please safely bring them here. <br />We will teach them, try to guide them, <br />Let them know that to us they’re dear.<br /><br />Lee Ann Schaffer<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-teacher-s-prayer-for-the-lost-children/
