Ravensong Poetry And Writing Blog by Donovan Baldwin

If somewhere today a child has died
Or falls asleep with tear soaked cheeks because
It knows not where a father or mother sleeps
Or if they have lived or died
...and...
We toddle off to sleep in soft warm beds
A good meal in our bellies and
Our children safe at home


What have we done? What have we done?

If tomorrow breaks and there is still Darfur
Or Afghanistan, or Iraq, or other pits of hell
Too numerous to mention
Where the fate of children rides upon
The whims of those who see only
What historians shall write, or
Where boundaries shall be drawn

What have we done? What have we done?

If we only raise our hands to summon
Another glass of wine, another glass of beer
Or only seek to change
The channel to another comedy
Brushing on the way past pictures
Which should have made us weep...

What have we done? What have we done?

Our voices should be raised in anger
Yes! And fists shaken violently as well.
Threats should be made and pens be taken up
To write the evil of the days
When we saw people who we called leaders
Turn to us and say that
This needs to be for better times to come.


If we have not wept, cajoled, pleaded, prayed,
Fought, and given all we could to save children
Who had no part in this evil
But that we have assigned and allowed to be,


What have we NOT done?

What have I NOT done?

Copyright Valentine's Day, Feb 14, 2007 by Donovan Baldwin

UNICEF