When I was a kid

When I was a kid ,
my friends and I would play in the street.
We'd play ball games and on our bikes ,
not worried about anything bad we might meet.
That's the times when kids were safe ,
safe to go out with friends and play.
Unlike today there is so much bad stuff happening ,
kids don't seem to be safe even in the light of day.
Now I am a mum and yes I let my kids out ,
but they must play right outside the house where I can see.
I know they would do no wrong themselves ,
but they see no danger so that's how it's got to be.
It seems that knifes and guns are replacing bikes and toys ,
and the kids are not scared to use them it's sad to say.
Read the papers or turn on the telly to watch the news ,
and there's another shooting or stabbing to report along the way.
Young lifes being taken and cruely cut short ,
their families world being torn apart and tears they do cry.
It's a shame that this is how some of our youth get their kicks ,
a shame too we seem helpless in the fight to protect our kids no matter how hard we try.