Missing Children

You only see them briefly
Perhaps just one edition
Their end-of-year photo stares out
We only see them briefly
And it's muggin' politicians
Cock-eyed, their faces stare out

But for some their image still burns bright
Like the glow of a tiger or a light
Switched-off, but once stared-at
With such intense concentration

You only see them briefly
Then it's idle conversation
Their perfect frozen bodies certain
You only see them briefly
Then it's fear and degradation
Their dusty, bloodied bodies lie here

But for some their image still burns bright
Like the glow of a tiger or a light
Switched-off, but once stared-at
With such intense concentration

And one shoulder and one arm
Can twist the sinews of thy heart
And when thy heart began to beat
What dread hands and what dread feet
What the hammer, what the chain
You are falling towards that rain
What the anvil, what dread grasps
Dare its deadly terror grasps

You only see them briefly
Then it's shame and flagellation
Their end-of-year photos stare out

Wind starts to down their spears
And water heaven with their tears
Did he smile, it's worth to see
Did he who made them glare briefly

You only see them briefly
Then reach to change the station
Their frozen perfect faces stare out