And twenty shaky smiles grow into squeals and squawks of joy

As young faces beam with pride and success.

Parents press

Forward to embrace their remarkable children.

These children work with sets made of driftwood and soda bottles.

These children work with confusing content like AIDS and gender equality.

These children work with anxiety and zeal

Because they can feel

That what they are doing is real.

The content is real.

Their context is real.

Their bodies are real and they are reeling in wonder at how they may use themselves to learn and to teach.

Bliss is this.

A being that realizes that creative expression creates expressive freedom.

This will be my work because this does work.

This will be my work because acting and directing isn’t just a quirk

Or a chance to shirk more practical duties because allowing someone the chance to

Explore their lives through art

Is

Allowing the chance to be a part

Of a dialogue between selves.

And twenty shaky smiles grow into squeals and squawks of joy

As young faces beam with pride and success.

This that I see is not in the present

But it is present with me.

And what I see

Inherently

Is

Possible again.

Maybe all of those who say “make art, not war”

Actually have something worth fighting for.