Peace in Three Parts

 

Part I:  A Third grader Personifies Peace

Peace is a child, small, invisible,

yet powerless over Anger and Ruthlessness,

who seem to control war, the very enemy of Peace.

But Peace would not go to war with Anger nor Ruthlessness,

for she is Peace, after all.

She would not go to war.

Even though, of course, Peace is very busy,

with lots of war going on.

Alex Trux, Springhill School, Spring 2009 

 

Part II: A Fourth Grader Praises Peace

Peace to all the  ocean waves.

Peace to all the boys and girls.

Peace to all the nights and days.

Peace to all the moons and suns.

Peace to all the clouds and sky.

peace to all the words I say.

Peace to all the different ways.

And I know that some day we will all settle down

and think of peace that way.

So peace to all the world.

Maia Warren, Springhill School, November 19, 2009

 

Part III: Peace Prayer by J. Ruth Gendler

Teach us to love the beauty of the small finely fringed green leaves

and the giant eared large leaves of the rain forest

Teach us to tend the tiny flames at the fingers of our leaf-shaped palms

and the hearts' fires and the stars' fires

May we stand next to each other in the bright light of peace

 

Wash our eyes with tears of understanding

Rinse our vision so we see each other as beautiful as wildflowers,

as mysterious as messengers from the stars

May we taste the honey of peace

 

May the angel of love whisper in the ear of every angry one

May we dance the dance of forgiveness

May each soul sing its true song

May the music of our souls become an orchestra of peace

 

May the grandmother of peace massage your tired shoulders

May the grandfather of peace walk in your neighborhood

May the children of peace laugh at your jokes

May the uncle of peace tickle your funny bone

 

May your body be a neon sign of love and peace and beauty

May you know each body as a cell in the body of god

Teach us to honor the honey of human religion

without eating the poison of spiritual pride

Teach us to pray in each other's languages

 

May the aunts of peace weave you bright shawls

May the birds of peace sing you awake

May the architects of peace rebuild your dreams

May the moon of peace shine in our windows

May the sun of peace give us the courage to shine

 

May the grammar of peace replace the syntax of revenge

And the lungs of the planet be healthy and moist

May each soul bring its light to the circle of lights

 

May we learn to make peace

May we learn to be peace

May we eat the bread of peace

May we swim in the river of peace