Missing Children - Cowboy Junkies

You only see them briefly

Perhaps just one edition

Their end-of-year photo stares out

You only see them briefly

Then it’s muggin' politicians

Cock-eyed, their faces stare out

But for some their image still burns bright

Like the glow of a tiger or a light

Switched-off, but once stared-at

With such intense concentration

You only see them briefly

Then it’s idle conversation

Their perfect frozen bodies

You only see them briefly

Then it’s fear and degradation

Their dusty, bloody bodies lie

But for some their image still burns bright

Like the glow of a tiger or a light

Switched-off, but once stared-at

With such intense concentration

And what shoulder and what art

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat

What dread hands?

And what dread feet?

What the hammer?

What the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil?

What dread grasp

Dare its deadly terror grasp!

You only see them briefly

Then it’s shame and flagellation

Their end-of-year photos stare out

When the stars threw down their spears

And watered heaven with their tears

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

You only see them briefly

Then reach to change the station

Their frozen perfect faces stare out