Stolen Joy

Life was joyful in our little hamlet 

A gaggle of children 

Not one of us younger than five 

Not one of us older than eight 

We ran

We laughed 

We played 

We were a bit mischievous 

From sun up to well after sundown 

During the hottest months on the calendar 

We were in a constant state of bliss

Until the morning our group was minus one 

The next morning another one gone 

And so repeated for 5 straight days 

The hamlet was completely awash in fear and sadness 

What or who was the cause of this madness

The authority figures scared spoke only in hushed tones

It was nine days later

The discovery of their bones

After confinement to my home 

For what seemed like an eternity

I stepped outside not a soul in sight 

Filled with sadness I turned to go back 

That quick it all went black.