By Deana Marie Starkey

Where have all the children gone?
They are gone.
They are walking to school.
They are playing outside.
They are sleeping in their beds.
They are in foster care.
They are wards of the state.
They are gone.

Who is taking our children?
They are gone.
No one is looking.
No one is mourning.
No one is praying.
No one is making changes.
No one is investigating.
They are gone.

I take it back.
They are gone.
There is a mom crying.
There is a person searching.
There are a few flyers passed around.
There might be a few volunteers.
There might be some social media.
They are gone.

I imagine some have run away.
They are gone.
I imagine some are scared.
I imagine some are cold.
I imagine some are alone.
I imagine some are hungry.
I imagine some are hurt.
They are gone.

I imagine some have been taken.
They are gone.
I imagine they are terrified.
I imagine they are isolated.
I imagine they are being victimized.
I imagine they cry out for help.
I imagine they yell for relief and rescue.
They are gone.

What did you do?
They are gone.
What did I do?
What did they do?
What will you do?
What will I do?
What will they do?
They are gone.

The truth is real.
They are gone.
Some don’t want to be found.
Most want to be found.
Some will be found.
Most will never be found.
I pray they are in His arms.
They are gone.