Young And Pretty Girl Of Baghdad Poem by Francis Duggan

Dark haired eight year old of Baghdad to you I would like to say
I am sorry very sorry that you suffer in this way
But my sorry no use to you that won't give you your legs back
And to you it does not matter who will or won't rule Iraq.

Pretty dark haired young girl of Baghdad good luck was not on your side
Though you were the lone survivor where your parents and younger brother died
Perhaps you are worse off than they for they are past all pain and fears
And I one who do not weep easily for you fighting back my tears.

A cluster bomb has left you this way and perhaps lucky those who died
And by a stroke of the worst of fortune all of your dreams have been destroyed
The legs you've lost cannot be grown back and in your wheelchair you'll grow old and gray
And for the awful crimes of others you should not have had to pay.

Young and pretty girl of Baghdad I saw you on the T.V.
And a sudden rush of sadness seemed to descend upon me,
Smiling there upon your wheel chair despite all that you've been through
If I had met with your misfortune I would not feel brave as you.

Young and pretty girl of Baghdad you'll grow old in your wheel chair
You were living in the wrong suburb life for some is so unfair,
I feel powerless for to help you and you don't need my sympathy
And you must suffer on for decades due to man's Inhumanity.