A child was lost at the beach today,
Her parents just let her slip away.
All it would have took was a quick glance,
And when she was in trouble, she hadn't a chance!



In the water she was splashing and playing,
Her friends were all laughing and saying,
"Come in a little deeper, it's fun!"
So she went in to escape the hot sun.



So many children, all bobbing heads,
"Which one is mine?" her Mama had said.
"Oh, they'll be all right." another Mom spoke.
"She's out there somewhere!" said Dad as he awoke.



All the kids came in and she wasn't with them,
One said, "She was just out there for one more swim."
When packing up and ready to go,
She still wasn't with them, did anyone know?



By now they were worried, not a little a lot,
They all started searching, but found her not.
As dark came and she didn't appear,
Everyone was concerned and full of fear.



It's been a week now, and she hasn't been found,
The police and volunteers have searched all around.
They looked in the water and on the beach,
They questioned everyone that was in reach.



Poor little girl, I didn't know her name,
She could have had fortune she could have had fame.
But she is gone now, her life forever lost,
Just one little glance, that's all it would have cost!



Author:  Susan T. Fisher
June 3, 1999