Child Soldiers | Teen Ink

Child Soldiers MAG

March 13, 2008
By Courtney Cyr BRONZE, Eaton, Colorado
Courtney Cyr BRONZE, Eaton, Colorado
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Their eyes tell silent stories.
Stories that would shock even the darkest of hearts.
These eyes have seen worse than some could even dream of.
They’ve seen killing and death, and pain and suffering to extents that can be hard to imagine.
Eyes that should be learning how to read are instead being taught how to fight.
Emotionless eyes are being forced to kill in gruesome ways.
Eyes that seem to have run out of tears, because crying never helped.
Their sobs are unheard, their tears are unseen.
Children who are innocent are being ruined by men who see no hope in their government.
Men who are willing to take advantage of an irreplaceable innocence.
The eyes are deep brown.
A brown so deep you could get lost in it.
Eyes that catch attention for their beauty.
They silently tell of innocence lost and of silent tears cried.
These are the eyes of a child soldier.



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This article has 368 comments.


very good. it is sad that is what the world is. there are a lot of stories like this.

runner1 said...
on Apr. 13 2017 at 11:02 am
runner1, Mapleville, Rhode Island
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments
Your repetition of the word "eyes" makes me think of how we see things in our world; our vision of childhood in the U.S. is so different to how others in the world might see it. Imagine if we took the time to look through the world with different "eyes"...what we might learn. Thank you for sharing your beautifully heartbreaking verse.

jajaja said...
on Mar. 16 2017 at 6:22 pm
jajaja,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
hay bro how are you today you look good bro

Tony1229 said...
on Mar. 16 2017 at 6:22 pm
Tony1229,
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
5445 lol

Tony1229 said...
on Mar. 16 2017 at 6:17 pm
Tony1229,
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
SUP JAYDEN

fat cakes said...
on Oct. 13 2016 at 10:58 pm
very good. it is sad that is what the world is. there are a lot of stories like this.

on Apr. 4 2016 at 4:07 pm
Ilse_Spiro GOLD, Palmer, Alaska
16 articles 3 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Do you know the difference between an error and a mistake? Anyone can make an error, but that error doesn't become a mistake until they refuse to correct it."
-Grand Admiral Thrawn
Heir to the Empire, by Timothy Zhan.

I can think of so many children you could be referring to. I feel like I know too many stories that this can relate to. It is sad that this is what our world has come to.

markelly said...
on Nov. 5 2015 at 8:38 am
markelly,
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
The phrase “ Their sobs are unheard, their tears are unseen”, is such a powerful line. That line relates to me because I understand how it feels to be hurt, and to be unheard or unseen. This line is one of the most dominant lines in the poem and is true about how many people including myself feel. This is a great poem, and is touching.

on Nov. 5 2015 at 8:34 am
terialexander BRONZE, Plaquemine, Louisiana
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments
I admire the line “Eyes that should be learning how to read are instead being taught how to fight.” It brings attention to how much we take for granted when there are children our age fighting for their lives.

AndreB BRONZE said...
on Nov. 4 2015 at 12:59 pm
AndreB BRONZE, Sunshine, Louisiana
4 articles 0 photos 4 comments
I love this peace it is honest about children who are soldiers. When you said “Men who are willing to take advantage of an irreplaceable innocence” made me think about it. I thought how that is true and Man will use a child and take advantage of them.

on Nov. 4 2015 at 11:57 am
KingBrack BRONZE, White Castle, Louisiana
2 articles 0 photos 4 comments
“These eyes have seen worse than some could even dream of” I agree with this line because it verbalizes that child soldiers shouldn’t be experiencing killing at a young age.

2JWARD BRONZE said...
on Nov. 4 2015 at 10:09 am
2JWARD BRONZE, Maringouin, Louisiana
3 articles 0 photos 4 comments
The phrase “Eyes that should be learning how to read are instead being taught how to fight” is such a great line. The poem is touching! It makes you reflect upon the struggles of other humans. It captures the emotions of the child soldiers!

2JWARD BRONZE said...
on Nov. 4 2015 at 10:00 am
2JWARD BRONZE, Maringouin, Louisiana
3 articles 0 photos 4 comments
In today’s classes, we rarely focus on Africa's history. “If we stand tall it is because we stand on the backs of those who came before us.” That line tells us that before us were individuals that were Native Americans, slaves, immigrants and more. This piece of work should be read by numerous people. I agree with this poem as our ancestors are usually forgotten.

on Nov. 3 2015 at 10:29 pm
KingBrack BRONZE, White Castle, Louisiana
2 articles 0 photos 4 comments
“These eyes have seen worse than some could even dream of” I am intruded by this line because it is one of the best lines and it verbalizes that the child soldiers shouldn’t be experiencing killing at a young age.

on Nov. 3 2015 at 8:34 pm
claynique BRONZE, Plaquemine, Louisiana
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments
The phrase “Eyes that should be learning how to read are instead being taught how to fight” is such a powerful line. That line is compelling to me because we as humans take our privileges for granted, while there’s little children out in the world that’s unsure where their next meal will come from. This poem was so touching. Keep up the good work!

Hendog BRONZE said...
on Nov. 3 2015 at 12:05 pm
Hendog BRONZE, Plaquemine, Louisiana
1 article 0 photos 3 comments
"Their eyes tell silent stories." I am intrigued by this line, and I feel that this is one of your strongest lines

on Apr. 17 2015 at 5:12 pm
ApatheticSincerities BRONZE, Reno, Nevada
3 articles 0 photos 6 comments
To all of the children whom have died in vain for some person's malicious intentions and screwed up ideals: "Requiescat In Pace"...

the12yearold said...
on Apr. 12 2015 at 10:30 am
I'm so happy this has been published!!I feel their pain and its making people so aware. You're so talented, I'm going to be reading everything you've done. I write such things and I when I'm 13, I'm 12 now and turning 13 in July, I will publish them. When I do please read them, everyone!!!

on Apr. 6 2015 at 10:10 am
passion_poet19 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
12 articles 0 photos 49 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Someday i would stop wondering where i went wrong and know where i went right"

this really speaks to me!!

on Feb. 25 2015 at 6:27 pm
Juiceboxx BRONZE, Monticello, Illinois
3 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"But they told me, a man should be faithful, and walk when not able, and fight 'til the end but I'm only human."
-Michael Jackson (Will You Be There)

It makes you really think about what they are going through.