A Child's Peace Poem

Through reviews of her lovely books, I have become email friends with one of our national treasures, Ruth Gendler. Part of the service she performs for humanity is in our schools. She brings her artistry into classrooms and inspires the talents and imaginations of our youth who, in my opinion, sorely need it. One of Ruth’s delicious books is called The Book of Qualities. It inspires me and it inspires her work in the schools. Children write what Ruth calls, “Qualities.” Knowing of my commitment to peace, Ruth sent me this poem by third-grader Alex Trux. She was writing on the quality of Peace. We have permission from Alex’s mother to quote her astonishing writing.nn Peace is a child, small, invisible,n yet powerless over Anger and Ruthlessness,n who seem to control war, the very enemy of Peace.n But Peace would not go to war with Anger nor Ruthlessness,n for she is Peace, after all.n She would not go to war.n Even though, of course, Peace is very busy,n with lots of war going on.nnI think Alex names peace for what it is on our Earth right now—a child, small, invisible. Peace is a child. Those of us who work for peace on our planet are engaged in the work of parenting peace—helping her to grow up as the strong, resilient, familiar presence she is meant to be. True peace does not go to war because she is peace. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Jane Addams and Emily Greene Balch, used a wonderful motto on a flyer: “It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the air force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber....” Alex names the greater difficulty. Peace is very busy these days. She’s not a regular child. She doesn’t have playdates or homework because peace is too busy addressing wars and skirmishes and differences of opinion to be allowed to be a child. I’ll never forget the day I really read Psalm 8 for the first time. “Out of the mouths of babes ...” comes from that psalm. Alex, it is my hope for you, and all children, that peace will be allowed to be that child and to grow up strong, free and at peace. Thank you for your beautiful, evocative words.nnVisit Dr. Susan Corso’s website or subscribe to Seeds at www.susancorso.com.