Where are the Children?

The minister practices
his sermon in, word
forgetting his deeds
are all that are heard;

The politician is running
for another term, at the task,
not sure of his intentions
no one thought keen, to ask.

"To be perfectly honest..."
to sell his wares, he must lie
the salesman in him
bids him, to try;

Father is barely providing
for the family,
if mother complains
there's no harmony.

Meanwhile, the children
lose the times of their youth,
by maturing too swiftly
because, they know the truth;

say, "Good-bye.", to the children
say, "Hello.", to your peers,
they smile, for they know you
and, they've known you.....for years.