By Jane Tawel
And What Would the Children Say?
By Jane Tawel
October 20, 2023
*
And what would the children say?
If they were allowed to speak?
Would they ask the adults,
why they always want war
instead of a world where
each man, woman, child, has enough,
and enough to share?
If they were allowed to speak,
could the children teach us to care?
Would they sing songs of love,
and hymns sweet and long,
singing our world into peace?
*
And what would the children do?
If they were allowed to act?
Would they begin dancing
instead of marching?
Would they play and laugh,
voices raised in loud joy?
Instead of raised voices
of mothers and fathers
and teachers and governors,
and princes and soldiers
would they grab hold of hands,
tear down false walls between lands,
would they show all in power
that it’s more fun to create?
*
And what would the children pray for,
if anyone could hear their prayers?
Would the children say softly,
“Please, please, Someone care.
It seems the world’s crumbling
like building blocks rumbling,
and some times, we’re afraid,
that the mess grownups have made,
will leave nothing for us to repair.”
Would the children lie down
in their beds at bedtime,
and quietly whisper,
a prayer to a God,
a God who still hears
a small child’s quiet question:
“Will you save us, dear God?
Will you save all the world?
Are Your hands, my dear Papa,
big enough to enclose,
my small self, my small hopes,
my small fears, and small faith?”
“I know I’m just a child,
but a wise man once did say,
‘A small child will then lead them’,
and so, God I pray,
make adults see we need them
to stop causing pain,
and remember what it’s like
to be a small child again.”
“And the children of the world, God,
we will help you, dear God,
if you’ll just let our voices be heard.”
Oh, how would the world,
turn around and be changed,
if adults turned their hearts
to the children?
If a child had a voice…
If a child had a choice…
What would children do now?
If they could?
© Jane Tawel, 2023
Jane Tawel 