What is the price of a childhood lost?

And who is the one to pay the cost?

For the child who’s often left alone,

And forced to grow up on their own,

Left at home without a reason why,

While mommy goes out to get high,

For the child who lives in constant fear,

Who wants for love, but none is near,

And left to cry throughout the night,

With no one near to hold her tight,

No sheltering arms to wrap around,

Or childhood comforts to be found,

When compassion is a forgotten word,

And loving thoughts are never heard,

When hopes and dreams have all been tossed,

What is the price of a childhood lost?

Poet: Alan W. Jankowski