If the world was my classroom

And I, the lesson bard, to a young girl-

I would take her first, into the forests

And let Nature play her part

 

For all the world’s a stage

To laugh, to love, to play

Not for crying or dismay

This little child

 

Learn first to love, before the hate

Learn first to laugh, and second

To train that honest eye

Perk up, the innocent

Soul

That she would learn to see others

Both old and small

As little children too, behind their alabaster walls

If the world was my classroom

And yet still, the child returned from the woods

I would take her, Second

Back home

 

For Life, she is a fickle thing

With roots above and branches below

Why should I, in vainglory attempt

 

If but still, she returned

With the Honest eye

And a Mother’s love

Then I would take her, third

Back in time

 

What greater mentor

Than the guide of what has been?

The spirits of the here-be-fore

With their jaded wisdom

Were the world my stage

And all the men and women my players-

I would endeavor to show her

The things unseen

 

A mother’s heart

A Bird’s cry

A Father’s Love

Eternal Songs

 

Sung by those who hold her dear

 

I would spare her, for just a day

The Ides of March

What our cold eyes have wrought

I would show her hope

Give her fire, that once was ours

Give her silver, once polished by

Justice

Honor

Passion

That we buried and trampled

If the world was my classroom

And she, but a babe

I would tell her to hope

And not be afraid

 

I would tell of the storms

And the mighty gales

I would show her the depths

And show her the whales

 

But what I could say

I’ll let her decide

Tell her of flowers

Loose ye, your wrath

 

You treacherous woes

Speak out your lies

Your tongues

That lick with black fire

And dare to approach!

 

I dare you to come

Ho! With swords drawn

And missiles set

Build your walls

With the best of the worst

And stand tall!

 

You cannot weather, what comes near

Close now, the child

Now a woman of might

And the heart of a song

And the strength of an oak

Aged with wisdom and love

And the world of her past

Her hope is a blaze

You cannot kill

 

Hope finds us

In one way or the next

It seeks out our children

Would that be my gift

From the world to a girl

The fire of hope

From eons before

 

When the lesson is learnt

And the door is shut

And the pencil is down

And the window is closed

And all is silent

And all is still

She would return

With a world of her own

And teach

Another

Hope.