Poem

THE INNOCENCE OF YOUTH

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

A guest post written by my friend,
Paul Griffiths, AKA The Birkenhead Poet
🕊️

My father says he hates the Arab.
I know, my father says he hates the Jew.
Why can’t they shake hands and be friends
just like me and you?

I wonder why they hate each other.
Yes, it’s strange indeed and I find it hard to understand.
Our father’s hatred for each other
started over a silly piece of land.

My father calls this piece of land Israel.
My father calls this land Palestine.
Why can’t they live together peacefully
and then everything would be fine?

My father says he would die for his homeland.
Yes, my father says the same.
My father tells me the Palestinians are the problem.
My father says Israel is to blame.

I think the world of grownups is a crazy place.
Yes, I think you’re right about that; I totally agree.
Why can’t our fathers see past their hatred
and become friends like you and me?

I know, wouldn’t that be great if our fathers could be friends;
to live at peace together so that this senseless fighting ends?
It would be a dream come true if the fighting was to cease.
To live as one together, to finally be at peace.

But my father hates the Arab.
Yes, and my father hates the Jew.
Who knows – maybe the solution to such a problem
stems from us children, kids like me and you.

Yes, wouldn’t that be cool? Peace found in a peaceful way.
Such a simple solution to a problem almost sounds like child’s play.
If only our fathers could be friends instead of sworn enemies,
How things would be different, how better things could be.

Maybe if we both spoke to our fathers 
maybe they could call a truce;
A peaceful solution finally brokered 
by the innocence of youth.

PTG © 2023

I’d like to thank Paul for allowing me to share his poem on my page. There are countless songs written about peace in our world; here’s one of my favorites – George Harrison’s “Give Me Love”.

28 thoughts on “THE INNOCENCE OF YOUTH”

  10. Yes, Nancy… Synchronicity was of the charts this time.

    (PS: that is why political parties, organizations of all sizes and intends, spent huge amount of money for the indoctrination of the young ones)

    Good morning, cara.

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