"I Will Change the World": A Poem from My Daughter

I am posting something from our youngest daughter who is almost 11 and just finished 5th Grade – graduating from elementary school on her way to young adulthood. She wrote the following poem this year in her Language Arts class, and I read it for the first time last night. She got no help or input whatsoever from anyone in our family. It is an example of why she was given the award for outstanding performance in Language Arts at her school.

I am proud of her – not just for her ability as a writer but, more importantly, for what this poem says about her and her vision:

Quote:

We may be children and teens,

But we can be reigning queens.

They say we can’t help;

They think we will melt,

But we are solid.

We have knowledge.

If you join me,

We can flee

So many times of war.

Join me from door to door.

I will change the world.

No one can stop me.

I will feed the poor.

If you follow through,

Then we can win

and rule the population.

Though we must wait,

It’s very fine;

We wait for a reason,

And that reason is

That we don’t have the power . . . yet.

But when we do,

I hope we will

Change the world.

Maybe you could

Just speak up.

You could help by

Making Earth cleaner,

Safer, kinder, and a

Better place to live.

We have a great amount

Of stingy people

Who just won’t share.

Why do so many people

Leave their families

When they could be happy

If only they cared?

If only we weren’t

So proud of ourselves,

So many more families

Could be happy.

Why not just make peace

Between other countries?

Ambassadors, Presidents,

Children, Adults –

What’s the difference

When we are all human?

So many people think

They are better than another.

Is that really necessary?

Is that why there is

So much name calling?

Why do we title

Everyone else and point out

So many small problems?

Help to stop all

Of this horrible behavior.

Help stop pollution;

So many animals

Have to suffer,

Because we throw

Our trash in rivers, woods

And other different places.

So, stop smoking,

And start spreading

Joy instead of grief.

Stop hurting children;

Take care of them.

Stop using drugs.

Please join me

And change our lives.

I will change the world.

Will you help me?