Children Are Like Rosebuds

Children are like rosebuds.
Their minds are so fragile, so delicate.
Their hearts are so beautiful and open for the world to see.
They soak up the rays of love and compassion
And bloom to their hearts' content.
But with the passing of time,
They encounter challenges to their survival.
Other blooms try to crowd them out,
To block them and steal their rays.
The harsh weather tries to drown them out
Or cause them to wither away.
The chill of winter's hate
Will freeze their fragile petals, their hearts,
And leave them icy, dead.
Very few survive such torments
But even they are left with scars.