Our Many Faces
Aleppo, yes, I know
Sounds like a sixth
Marx brother from
Post-Vaudevillian
Capers
But children die there
From what war takes
Which is all right
Since we don’t value
Children, anyway:
If we did, we’d see
They were not shot
And killed, they never
Suffered in want
Of food or a good
School
We’d value them like
Prizes won in the
Most precious bingo
Game or ski-ball
We’d sit with them,
We’d watch them eat,
See that they are
Clean inside and out
And have temerity
To ask for help when
Needed
We’d celebrate the
Family that we are
Part of, even if we’re
Not their parents
Because in the most
Worldly way we are
We’d say, it’s for the
Children; and we’d
Mean it
We’d change
Everything to have
Them safe and well
And jiggly playful at
Home
We’d do the world
Right this time
C L Couch
September 18, 2016 at 10:14 pm
So sad the children don’t matter but greed does.
September 18, 2016 at 10:41 pm
You’re right, sadly and tragically. In the approach of greed, evidently there never can be too much acquired; Or enough. Against that, the (not-for-profit) needs of children don’t stand much of a chance.
September 19, 2016 at 12:23 am
“Since we don’t value
Children, anyway.”
These two truthful lines hit my heart hard. Sad that is it written, saddest that they are true. 😦
September 20, 2016 at 7:09 pm
The world talks a good game. We care about children. We care about poverty. We care about education. We care about peace. But when it acts, the world really seems to be more occupied with other things. Yes, it’s sad, sister. I can only live in hope that things will change. And that those of us who believe and act differently–who think the game is real–will prevail. Thank you, dear friend!
September 21, 2016 at 3:00 am
the world really seems to be more occupied with other things.
Among those other things are money. Sigh. Thank you for this wonderful piece.
September 19, 2016 at 3:18 pm
The only good thing about a presidential candidate not knowing about Aleppo is that it made other people want to know and bring it to the nation’s attention. Surely we are human so why does the most human thing to do (helping them, especially the children) have to be so difficult? It angers and frustrates me and makes me sad that hardly anything (if at all) is being done to help them. Thank you for your poem, writing about such topics is another help to bringing it into the light. Well done focusing on the children, they are the innocents paying the price they shouldn’t have to pay.
September 20, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Innocents and innocence. These are what we should take care of so much more than we do. These persons and this value. You’re right about Aleppo; as a gaff, it has at least raised a little more attention. And you’re right–we’re human. It’s the only perspective we know, since we can’t presume to know the mind of God or of other persons in the cosmos. We should be able to say, Children matter. And when we hurt them, we hurt the best part of the world we know. I appreciate your response, Clarissa. It’s insightful and personally affirming. Happy autumn to you, when it arrives–your friend, Christopher
September 21, 2016 at 12:02 am
Much agreed Christopher. Everyone should treat children as children should be treated. Cared for,fed, clothed, loved, cuddled, and taught what they need to know for life gently and with certain discipline. Even if they don’t have parents they should be able to depend on anyone as their family. Sad,y, this isn’t true. Maybe a dream. Still, it almost makes one weep to see what people do to children 😥
September 21, 2016 at 1:26 am
I certainly agree with all you say, I and thank you for saying it. Part of children’s innocence is that they can’t do much. As you say, they must be cared for. That’s our universal law; and if it weren’t, we should do it, anyway. All of us should be involved. I like the way you put it: “they should be able to depend on anyone as their family.” Amen!