A Recipe for a Child Soldier

Take some fear and boil it,
add a cup of unexpected things,
a spoon of loss,

a pinch of hatred,
and a whole lot of confusion.
Another spoon of bruises,
and another pinch of gunshots,
there you have it, your child soldier,
now treat it well,
and care for it,
because remember,
you forgot to add the most important ingredient-

childhood.