Rats outnumber six to one

The children of oblivion

Predestined to in youth expire

While haunting alleyways and mire

Of cities hiding from their shame

Of knowing not their daughter’s name.

She lies alone within the smog,

Her story spent—an epilogue. 

Who will mourn a nameless loss?

And who will kneel before the cross

To pray for one who did abide

Within the reach of homicide?

The rats may pause to gaze upon

The killing of a fledgling swan.

Her beauty cold as alley stone—

A death the city can’t atone.

The dawn may bring another child

From poverty, yet unbeguiled,

To wander slums that can’t afford

To know her name or be her ward,

For chances are the rats will know

Her death before the child can grow.

And so it is where darkness reins    

And flows like blood through city veins.