For in these Young Souls, lies Humanity's Grace.

                  

In the heartland where innocence once thrived,

A story unfolds, one that cannot be denied,

Of a child soldier, burdened by the weight,

Of a brutal conflict, sealing their fate.

Born into a world without a choice,

Deprived of childhood laughter, silenced voice,

Lured by the deceiving hands of despair,

Doomed to wield weapons, their spirit stripped bare.

In the cradle of war, where hatred breeds,

Children become pawns, feeding on treacherous needs,

Forced into a battlefield, their dreams shattered,

Innocence slowly fades, tattered and tattered.

Their tiny hands once held dolls and toys,

Now gripping rifles, instruments of noise,

Their eyes once glimmered with hope and light,

Now glazed with fear, a haunting sight.

A uniform too large, draped upon their frame,

Once taught games like hide-and-seek, now the rules of the game,

A soldier's journey begins, amidst tears and pain,

Their tender souls never to be the same.

Huddled together, they yearn for their home,

Wishing to be free, no longer forced to roam,

Yet fear entangles them, rendering them weak,

Their childhood stolen, dreams they cannot seek.

Beneath starless skies, they march through night,

Haunted by shadows, devoid of respite,

Each step taken, an echo of despair,

Their cries unheard, lost within the air.

Bullets and bombs deafen nature's voice,

Sorrows unspoken, drowned out by the noise,

Their pulse races with fire and rage,

But deep inside, innocence still yearns to engage.

For in this child soldier's heart remains,

The flicker of hope, a flame that sustains,

A yearning to escape the chains that bind,

To reclaim a life, leave the war behind.

They remember when laughter filled the air,

Carefree days of yesteryear, now seemingly unfair,

Their innocence tainted, yet resilience persists,

Clinging to fleeting dreams, as hope insists.

Amidst the carnage, their spirits rise,

Sown in their hearts, an unyielding prize,

To build a world where children can be free,

To end the cycle of war, this they decree.

We may not fathom the horrors they bear,

But let compassion guide us, their burdens to share,

Raise your voice for these children in strife,

Together, we can rewrite their story, rewrite their life.

For every child soldier, a beacon must be,

To lead them beyond the darkness, help them see,

That they are more than instruments of war,

That their worth is greater than what they've been forced to endure.

Let us stand united, for their rights we'll defend,

An army of love, their broken hearts to mend,

Childhood restored, from conflict set free,

A testament of resilience, a triumph to be.

In the realm of shattered innocence, let there be light,

A world where child soldiers can reclaim their right,

To be cherished and valued, a future they'll embrace,

For in these young souls, lies humanity's grace.