Life on the Deckle Edge has this week’s roundup. Thank you, Robyn!

It’s hard to believe that 14 years have passed since 9/11. For this week’s poem, I’ve chosen one from poet Mattie Stepanek, from his book, Hope Through Heartsongs. I love this poem for so many reasons, and especially because it was written by a child and so appropriate to share with children when talking about this day. Stacey over at Two Writing Teachers has some very developmentally appropriate and thoughtful ways to mark this day in classrooms. Here’s Mattie’s poem:

 

For Our World

 

We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

 

Mattie Stepanek 9/12/2001

Have a peaceful day.