Men and The Goddess

I did not march on March 24. But I watched the entire event, the moving speeches, the incredible crowds, the world-wide demonstrations for common sense. The leaders of this movement, the “kids” from Parkland, were amazing not just for what they said, not just for their poise and maturity, but for their leadership, their ability to motivate and move a crowd of 800,000 people in Washington, DC alone, to a peaceful gathering to bring attention and awareness that change is desperately needed to combat the violence this country grew up with and has accepted as a “right”! I was moved to tears many times as I watched and listened to the eloquent pleas for this change. I wrote this poem the following day to remember their lessons for the “adults” in the leadership of this country.

Grow Up America
(written on March 25, to remember the “March for Our Lives” in Washington, DC,
March 24, 2018.)

Follow the children;
They are leading the way;
They are marching for their lives.
Do we dare impede their call?

Grow up America!

The kids seek common sense;
Their asks are reasoned and sound;
They are marching for their lives.
Do we dare follow them all?

Grow up America!

What century are we in?
The Wild West was won, by some.
Do we need the violence of guns
To protect, prove, move, impede others?

Grow up America!

From infancy we protected and grew.
In adolescence we proved our power.
Can we now move beyond our childhood?
The children will not be impeded!

Grow up America!

A new age is dawning;
“The children will lead them.”
It is time to follow their lead, and
Grow up America!

©2018 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.