Sixteen - Jaafar

SIXTEEN

Rise then fall, surely as a man-made wall risen in a time of war

Is all she’s ever known

Layla grew up playing in the streets

Fired rounds cut the bottom of her feet

She’s only sixteen going on seventeen

Waking, living in a bad dream

Sixteen going on seventeen

She tries

She’s only sixteen going on seventeen

Eighteen, Is only in her fantasy

Sixteen going on seventeen

She tries

She’s only sixteen

Eyes that don’t ever see the light lose hope, but every single day she prays

for a better tomorrow

Faith leads to all possibilities

In the night she dreams of freedom and of peace

She’s only sixteen

Out of sight

Another number on a headline