Notes About The Poem

//I wrote this after my wife and I took our Granddaughter to the park.//

    The two mothers were Muslim

    The one Afro-American

    The grandparents Caucasian

    The children – children

Child's Play

Child’s Play


Perhaps we should let the children lead.
Two mothers sat on a bench
speaking in an unusual tongue,
one sat alone scanning her cell phone,
a Dad pretended to teach his daughter to fish,
grandparents toddled after a toddler.

The children did what children do
follow the sound of children’s voices,
gravitate to the excited playfulness,
see only other children – playing,
slowly slip into the wonder of the moment.

No ceremonious introductions necessary
another voice added to the jubilation,
another set of dancing footsteps
racing for the slide, sliding to the ground
laughing in the joy of spring warmth.

The parents watched the children
the children touched their hearts
left the parents thinking…
Perhaps we should let the children lead.


John G. Lawless
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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Richards Avatar
May 1, 2016 at 10:54 AM
Yes... through eyes of the child, ........the world could possibly be a peaceful place. If only, if only, if only. What a though provoking poem, John. Thank you. And thank you very much for my terrific placement in your contest. I'm so honored! (Love your poem!!)
Dietrich Avatar
April 22, 2016 at 12:41 AM
this is beautiful, John. Yes, and a little child shall lead them!!
Lawless Avatar
May 1, 2016 at 2:39 PM
Yeah, if only we'd smarten up and follow them
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