Mine child: A poem about landmines

My sweet child, everything’s going to be just fine

I’ll take your hand, if you’ll take mine

Makeshift games in the sand is all you can afford

No wonder, poor thing, you look so bored

Well, come over here and play with me

I’ve got the best toys a poor kid’ll ever see:

Bright, alluring, the colour of your fantasies and dreams

Step right up and check out the fluorescent yellow gleam

Yes, everything’s going to be just fine

I’ll take your hand, if you’ll take mine

The treats you’ll find will blow your mind

Just take your pick from the latest tricks –

Step right up and try your luck

All my toys are sitting ducks

Dolls for little girls and little boy’s tanks

And all I ask for is a smile of thanks

Hey, everything will be just fine

Give me your hand and take mine

Come and join me in my lonely hole

Come, sweet child, make me lose control

Trip my wire and light my fire

When my booby trap snaps, I’ll make you a flyer

I’ll give you puffs and bangs that could blow you away

I promise you, you’ll never, ever forget today

But don’t worry, everything’s going to be just fine

I’ll take your hand, if you’ll take mine

Some may call me a snake in the grass

But you’ll see I’m of a wholly different class

You can say I lure children with my guile

Well, I just have this devastating style

Your innocence is not all I’ll steal

I won’t just scar your soul

The wounds I leave will never heal

I’ll make sure you never feel whole

But, hey, everything’s going to be just fine

I’ll take your hand, if you’ll take mine

I’ll let you in on a secret, if you promise not to tell –

I’ll even take your arms and legs and eyes as well

You say all you wanted was a brand new toy

To show off in front of the girls and boys

You thought you’d found a goldmine

What you got was a landmine

And now you’re mine, mine, mine!