mga batang bakwit

I arrived yesterday from Cotabato City,, together with the UN mission who are here to observe and assess the status of children affected by armed conflict. Reflecting on our visit to an evacuation camp in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, I wrote this piece:

naglalaro, kumakanta
ngunit alam ba nila
kung nasaan sila?
alam ba nila kung bakit
sila naririto
sa masikip na kampo?
sino’ng magpapaliwanag
sa mga batang bakwit
kung ano ang gera
at kung saan ito nagmumula;
ano'ng kahihinatnan
ng karahasan ng tao
laban sa tao?

Translation:

playing, singing
but do they really know
where they are
and why they are here
in this crowded camp?
who can explain
to the child evauees
what war is
and where it comes from?
where will it lead to:
this violence
of human against human