This poem listens to life as it is reflected in young children—
their gaze, their silence, their small questions.
Each moment asks something of us, quietly but unmistakably,
calling not for sentiment, but for responsibility, care, and action.
To Those Guided by Young Children
To meet the gaze of a young child
demands a sincerity that faces them head-on.
In a young child’s tears,
an anger that must not be indulged is questioned.
In a young child’s smile,
the meaning of selfless joy is questioned.
In a young child’s gestures,
the warmth of an embracing presence is questioned.
In a young child’s fragile voice,
our readiness to respond without delay is questioned.
In a young child’s silence,
the wisdom to sense the heart beyond words is questioned.
In a young child’s small questions,
our breadth of vision toward the world is questioned
In the radiance of a young child’s life,
our resolve to protect the present is questioned.
The peace a young child seeks without cease
must be given with our full strength.
To soothe the pain in a young child’s heart,
we must devote ourselves with all we have.
So that a young child may not fall into grief,
we must prevent it with all our might.
So that a young child’s life may never be threatened,
we must stop it—at all costs.
Let us give thanks that a child has come into this world.
Let us rejoice in a child’s healthy growth.
Let us act, so that a child’s very existence
may become a light for the world.
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