shooz z z z z
War trapped in a jar.
IFLAC Children’s Peace Train Poetry Festival 2014 Theme: “Peace in My Own Life”
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Organizers:
IFLAC: The International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace Children’s Peace Train
Editors:
Solveig Hansen, IFLAC Web Editor Fred Jeremy Seligson, Director (IFLAC) Children's Peace Train Ada Aharoni, IFLAC Founding President Rachel Unger, IFLAC Intern 2014 Co-Editor: Maria Cristina Azcona, IFLAC Director Latin America
E-book:
Designed and created by Solveig Hansen
Cover illustration:
Isabella Wallace (9), Australia, for “Peace on Earth,” page 55
Drawings:
Created by the participants or selected from the Children’s Peace Train Collection
Copyright:
The copyright to the poems and drawings remain with the creators
Web sites:
IFLAC: iflac.wordpress.com – Facebook: facebook.com/IFLACofficial Children’s Peace Train: facebook.com/groups/childrenspeacetrain IFLAC Children's Peace Train: iflacpeacetrain.wordpress.com IFLAC Kids: facebook.com/IFLACKIDSPeaceintheworld
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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The Organizers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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A Talk with Peace Poet Ada Aharoni . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Poems: Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Kenya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Myanmar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Romania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 South Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 The History of the Children’s Peace Train . . . . . . . . 140
Recommended PDF viewing settings in Adobe Reader To view the poems and drawings neatly side by side, like a book, in Adobe Reader, you should use a twopage view and display the cover page alone. Click on the View menu > choose Page Display > Two-Up > Show Cover Page During Two-Up (your menu screen might look slightly different). 3
The participants downloaded this certificate and signed it to become a certified Child for Peace. The drawing on the certificate was made by a 7 year old Children’s Peace Train participant in 2002. 4
What a wonderful day, to see before me a book of poetry written by children! Children are the future of our world. If Peace is to come to the single soul, to a whole country, to the entire planet, our lovely home the Green Earth, it will come through children. As I look through the poems in this collection, what a fine beginning! Children from South America, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, including the Middle East, and Australia, representing every continent on the globe, all join here in reciting in one voice their love of Peace, their love of one another, their families and communities. They tell us how much they wish to make and preserve a safe and comfortable, happy and fulfilling living space through verbal and physical, soulful expressions of Peace, Love and Joy. Come with them now. Open the pages and enjoy each poem, each line, each word and each syllable of beauty and wisdom, in the original languages and in their translations into English, that these children have to offer to each other and for adults; yes, adults, who can learn better ways of how to resolve disagreements than by fighting. To paraphrase the wisdom of an African child, which faithfully represents this collection of children’s poetry: “Peace lay in the purity of my heart” We would like to thank from the bottom of the ocean and the top of the sky all the young people who have participated in this Festival, including those whose poems are not included here. We appreciate every one of your words. Every child who has sent in a poem is now a Conductor of the IFLAC Children’s Peace Train. Also, we would like
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to thank from one end of the earth to the other all the older friends who helped collect poems in their home countries. How refreshing has been our mutual effort for the purposes of personal, local and world Peace! Fred Jeremy Seligson (Korea) Co-Director With Ada Aharoni (Israel), Solveig Hansen (Norway), And Rachel Unger (USA)
IFLAC (The International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace) was established in 1999 by Israeli poet and writer Ada Aharoni. The goal of this NGO is to build “bridges of understanding and peace through culture, literature and communication.” IFLAC Directors and Peace Ambassadors are appointed in some 20 countries. The children’s section, IFLAC Kids, has its own Facebook page. Children’s Peace Train is a project created by Fred Jeremy Seligson in South Korea in 2002. Children are invited to create drawings on the theme Peace in my own life. Since its establishment, the Peace Train has expanded its railroads to more than a dozen countries all over the world. After drawing their picture, the children can download a certificate making them a Conductor of the Peace Train. The IFLAC Children’s Peace Train Poetry Festival 2014 is modeled after Jeremy’s Peace Train, with an extra Peace Poetry carriage.
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Peace Train “Huff Huff Puff Puff” Circles ‘round Our World Peace Train “Jing Jing Toot Toot!” Carries Boys and Girls (Fred Jeremy Seligson)
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Ada Aharoni was born in Egypt in 1933. She has been writing for more than 70 years and published over 25 books, including peace poetry. How did she start? Did you write poems as a child, or when did you begin? What was the very first poem you wrote? I started writing poems (in English), as I was in an English School, at the age of seven, when I was in the second grade. I felt the need to talk to myself in my “writing language,” my mother tongue was French, and we talked French at home. My father saw my first poem, which was about the exciting birth of my little brother, David, and he loved it. He said I had earned myself an ice cream, which made me happy. However, at the ice cream shop, he was so proud of me that he told people I had written a lovely poem and he wanted me to read it to them, which made me very embarrassed and timid. I always hid my poems after that. Parents: please don’t do that to your children! Do you have any advice for young people who want to write their own poems? How do they get started? Whenever you feel you want to talk deeply to yourself, write what you think and feel, in a special notebook, so that you can always go back to it, improve it, and turn it into a lovely lyrical poem. Poems you wrote and you love, will stay with you all your life and enrich it. In your opinion, when can you call yourself a poet? You have been writing for almost eight decades. Do you remember the exact point in time when you thought, I’m a poet? I thought of myself as a “poet” when I received this title from the “Poets and Writers Organization in Israel,” at the age of 25. I had to
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present them then with two published books, that had to receive the full approbation from 17 judges! You often talk about creating bridges. How can children’s poetry and artwork help create bridges between peoples and cultures? Poetry and artwork are deep mirrors of your life, your values, your beliefs, and if you share them with other children from other countries and cultures, and read and appreciate their own poems and artwork, then a strong Bridge of Understanding is created between you. This is the most important ingredient for preventing misunderstandings, conflicts and wars between people and nations – as the Creation of Cultural Bridges leads to the respect and knowledge, and even love of “the other.”
www.iflac.com/ada
...and in 2014
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Children are Stars of Peace By Ada Aharoni, IFLAC Founding President Dear children, you were born with loving hearts And in them star seeds of peace. You are the future, you are life You do not want to die in wars Like some of your fathers and mothers Smart children, you will send your star beams of peace Through your smart phones and computers All over the battling Middle East And all over our global village Your rapid lasers will bring us What we failed to bring you – A world where not one gun is fired To kill fathers, mothers and children – A world where each child is a star of peace Well fed and smiling at life!
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Peace is Like a Raindrop By Rachel Unger, IFLAC Intern in 2014 Peace is like a falling raindrop Waiting for a child To catch it on her thirsty tongue And taste the mysterious sky Peace is like a lonely puddle Waiting for a child To jump and splash with all his might Before the sun comes out to dry Says the young girl from Palestine, “They are not human enough to think that it’s wrong to take a father from his children.”* While the Israeli boy from Haifa says, “They attack us because their parents teach them we are animals.” We don’t go out to play in the storm The rumors whisper, be careful! be afraid! So we hide behind our tinted windows And watch the peace drops fall away *The quote from the Palestinian girl is based on a real quote from the documentary Sometimes I’m Scared, Sometimes I Hit.
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Argentina The Latin America branch of IFLAC organized contests to find poems for the IFLAC Children's Peace Train Poetry Festival. From an impressive number of approx. 750 submitted poems from Argentina and Venezuela, a selection was made for this anthology.
Coordinators: Maria Cristina Azcona, Director IFLAC Latin America Susana Roberts, Vice Director IFLAC Latin America
Jury: Maria Cristina Azcona, Susana Roberts and IFLAC Member Teresa Palazzo
Translation: Maria Cristina Azcona, Susana Roberts
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Camila Olmos: ¿Qué es la Paz? / What is Peace? . . . . . . . . . 14 Melody Duarte: El Mundo Que Queremos / The World We Want . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Julian Ruiz Huidobro: La Paz / Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Malena Victoria Arcila: La Paz / Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Rocío Navetta: Sembrar la Paz / Plant the Peace . . . . . . . . . . 22 Alejandro Bustamante: La Paz / Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Esther Tolaba: La Paz en el Corazón / Peace in the Heart . . 26 Celeste: La Paz es Libertad / Peace is Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Milagros Brambilla and Juan Tacin: ¡Bendita Sea la Paz! / Blessed is the Peace! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Camila Russo: En Este Día / On This Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Valentina Suarez: La Paz / Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 MEF de la Escuela 34: La Paz En Mi Propia Vida / Peace In My Own Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Lourdes Roble: Paz En Mi Propia Vida / Peace In My Own Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Mauricio Alcaraz: La Paz / Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Yanela Abigail Torres Godoy: La Paz / Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Jazmín Barolo: Palomas / Doves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Evangelina Rissolo: Fuente de Paz / Source of Peace . . . . . . 48
IFLAC Latin America: iflacenarg.wordpress.com Paziflac: facebook.com/paziflac 13
San Isidro – Buenos Aires Sent by: Mirtha Gaitán, IFLAC Peace Ambassador in San Isidro
¿Qué es la Paz? Por Camila Olmos, 11 años La paz es alegría, tolerancia y comprensión Es un regalo de la vida, cuidémosla con el corazón La paz es felicidad y respeto hacia los demás Todos juntos creamos un mundo con igualdad La paz son palomas volando al atardecer Las risas de los niños en las tardes de sol La paz es esperanza de los pueblos la unión Y que todos podamos vivir en comunión
What is Peace? By Camila Olmos, age 11 School: No. 20 Hipólito Irigoyen, Villa Adelina – San Isidro – Buenos Aires Peace is joy, tolerance and understanding It’s a gift of life, let’s take care of it with our heart Peace is happiness and respect for others Together we can create a world of equality Peace doves are flying at dusk The laughter of children in the afternoon sun Peace is the hope of the people’s union In which we can all live in communion
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Children’s Peace Train Collection
Joy! 15
El Mundo Que Queremos Por Melody Duarte, 11 años Queremos un mundo más solidario donde haya esperanza y una buena convivencia. Queremos un mundo en el que haya Paz y una Paloma blanca que la lleve a todos lados. Queremos un mundo donde la amistad y la tolerancia crezcan cada vez más. Un mundo en el que haya una luz que nos guíe a esa convivencia, sin discriminación y violencia. Queremos un mundo en el que todos busquemos el diálogo y el amor, la comprensión y el respeto. Queremos un mundo con justicia y derechos, para todos por igual sin importar la clase social. Queremos un mundo en el que todos vivamos felices en armonía conviviendo en Paz.
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The World We Want By Melody Duarte, age 11 School: No. 20 Hipólito Irigoyen, Villa Adelina – San Isidro – Buenos Aires We want a more supportive world where there is hope and conviviality. We want a world in peace and a white dove to take her everywhere. We want a world where friendship and tolerance always increase. A world in which there is a light to guide us to coexistence without discrimination and violence. We want a world in which all seek dialogue and love, understanding and respect. We want a world with justice and rights for all in equality no matter their social class. We want a world in which we all live happy in harmony living together in peace.
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La Paz Por Julian Ruiz Huidobro, 11 años La paz no aparece por acto de magia, tenemos que conseguirla juntos. Si no tienes amigos hazte unos porque si no,la paz, no estará en tu mundo. Para conseguir, la paz, hay que estar tranquilo olvidando los problemas que habíamos tenido. Sonriendo, estando tranquilo, la paz siempre estará contigo. P.A.Z significa estas cosas P de perseverancia, que siempre hay que tener. A de amar, a todas esas personas que te odian. Z está en la palabra fuerza, lo que hay que tener, para luchar por ella. Es la esencia del alma. La que saca lo mejor de nosotros. Miremos el cielo, respiremos; nos sentiremos, palomas libres en pleno vuelo Carguémonos de paz, solo así, seremos un solo cielo.
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Peace By Julian Ruiz Huidobro, age 11 School: No. 20 Hipólito Irigoyen, Villa Adelina – San Isidro – Buenos Aires Peace does not appear by magic, we have to get together. If you have no friends, try to make some because if not, peace will not be in your world. To achieve the peace we should ignore the problems we’ve had. Smiling, being quiet, is the secret and Peace will always be with you. P.A.Z means these things P perseverance, you should always have. A to love all those people who hate you. Z is the last letter which must be taken too to fight for PEACE. It is the essence of the soul. Inside the best in us. Look at the sky, breathe; We feel, free doves in flight Carry on peace, only then, we will be free like the sky.
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La Paz Por Malena Victoria Arcila, 10 años Para construir la paz es necesario comprensión y tolerancia. Respetar a los demás y ser respetado. Escuchar los otros y ser escuchado. Tratar de ser cada día mejor con las personas que amas; porque si hay amor, hay paz. ¡Cooperemos con la paz! Con el respeto y la comprensión que son caminos que nos llevaran a lograr una convivencia mejor Deseamos el amor y la alegría alcanzar. Juntos convivir en armonía y felicidad. En nuestros corazones deseamos la paz. El amor que se tienen las personas; nos permite vivir en unión y amistad. ¡Necesitamos la paz y el amor! Para hacer de este mundo, un mundo mucho mejor!
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Peace By Malena Victoria Arcila, age 10 School: No. 29, Villa Adelina – San Isidro – Buenos Aires To build peace we need understanding and tolerance. Respect others and be respected. Listen to others and be heard. Try to be better every day with people you love; because if there is love, there is peace. Let us cooperate with peace! With respect and understanding which are paths that take us to better living. We will achieve love and joy. Let us live together in harmony and happiness. In our hearts we want peace. The love that people have allows us to live in unity and friendship. We need peace and love! To make this world a much better world!
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Sembrar la Paz Por Rocío Navetta, 11 años Miro aún lado y miro al otro En los lugares cercanos… Y también conozco otros Que se encuentran alejados. ¿Y saben una cosa? Me siento preocupado, No conocen la paz, Y no se sienten hermanos. Hay una sola forma De sentirse hermanados Y es vivir en armonía Y sentirse enamorados. Quiero hacer una propuesta. No me dejen sola en esta; No sembremos el odio Aprendamos con valor A defender el amor Y a sembrar paz y justicia En nuestro corazón. Entonces venceremos tanto dolor.
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Plant the Peace By Rocío Navetta, age 11 School: No. 29, Villa Adelina – San Isidro – Buenos Aires I look to one side and look at the other In the nearby locations… And I know others That are remote. And you know what? I am worried We do not know peace, And do not feel I have brothers. There is only one way Of being twinned And it is to live in harmony And feeling love. I want to make a proposal. Do not leave me alone in this; Let us not sow hatred Let us learn to value each other To defend love And to bring peace and justice In our hearts. Then we can overcome so much pain.
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Moreno West Zone Buenos Aires Sent by: Elías Galati, IFLAC Peace Ambassador in West Side Buenos Aires
La Paz Por Alejandro Bustamante, 11 años Para que haya paz en el mundo debe haber paz en las naciones Para que haya paz en las naciones debe hacer paz en las ciudades Para que haya paz en las ciudades debe haber paz en los barrios Para que haya paz en los barrios debe haber paz en las casas Para que haya paz en las casas debe haber paz en los corazones La paz es dulzura, tiene amor tranquilidad y muchas cosas más.
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Peace By Alejandro Bustamante, age 11 School: No. 6, Moreno, Buenos Aires For there to be peace in the world There must be peace in the nations For there to be peace in the nations There must be peace in the cities For there to be peace in the cities There must be peace in the neighborhoods For there to be peace in the neighborhoods There must be peace at homes For there to be peace at homes There must be peace in the hearts Peace is sweet, love is Tranquility and more.
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La Paz en el Corazón Por Esther Tolaba, 11 años La Paz en el corazón La paz tiene que estar en nuestro corazón por que siempre tiene razón en parar todas las peleas La paz tiene que estar en nuestro corazón quisiera que pueda haber paz en cada lugar y en cada rincón Que recorra cada parte del mundo.
Peace in the Heart By Esther Tolaba, age 11 School: No. 6, Moreno, Buenos Aires Peace has to be in our hearts that is always right. Stop all fights now Peace has to be in our hearts! I wish we could have peace in every place and in every corner of each part of the world.
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La Paz es Libertad Por Celeste, 11 años La paz es libertad amor, que nace desde el fondo de nuestro corazón La paz es sinceridad respeto, amistad que siempre estará La paz es un llanto un grito que se vuelve en calma Viva la paz para todos aquellos que quieren tranquilidad y libertad.
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Peace is Freedom By Celeste, age 11 School: No. 6, Moreno, Buenos Aires Peace is freedom love is born from the bottom of our hearts Peace is sincerity respect, friendship that will always be Peace is a cry – a cry that calm returns Long live peace! for all who want peace and freedom.
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Corrientes Province Sent by: Inés Emilia Arribas, IFLAC Peace Ambassador in Monte Caseros, and Amalia Ciuccio, IFLAC Peace Ambassador in Corrientes Province
¡Bendita Sea la Paz! Por Milagros Brambilla y Juan Tacin, 11 años y 9 años aprox. ¿Por qué hay guerra? ¿Por qué la hay? Porqué no sólo llevamos las cosas en paz y así podemos estar todo el mundo sin pelear. La paz es maravillosa sin guerra, sin peligro de muerte; si la vida es tan hermosa la paz debería estar más fuerte. Oremos para que este milagro se cumpla en todo el mundo. Si estamos bien unidos, ¡seguro tomará ese rumbo!
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Blessed is the Peace! By Milagros Brambilla and Juan Tacin, age approx. 11 and 9 School: No. 90 Yacumbu, Yacumbu – Monte Caseros – Corrientes Why is there war? Why is there? Why not just carry things in peace and so we can be worldwide without fighting. Peace is wonderful without war, danger of death; if life is so beautiful peace should be stronger than war. Pray for this miracle to be done and met with worldwide. While we are all together, for sure it will take that course!
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Pehuajó City – Buenos Aires Sent by: Marita Ragozza Mandrini, IFLAC Peace Ambassador in Pehuajó – Buenos Aires
En Este Día Por Camila Russo, 11 años En este día nos queremos manifestar a favor de la paz. Hay muchas personas para recordar, que lucharon por la humanidad y siempre han deseado que reine la paz. La guerra no es buena no es bueno luchar y los derechos humanos hay que respetar. Personas como: Mandela, Gandhi y muchos más han buscado las formas de la paz a estos héroes no podemos olvidar. Las gracias porque en este mundo tan grande no dejaron que el miedo se acobardase. Viva la Paz, la paz os doy, Pero ¿soy capaz de cumplirlo hoy? Queremos la paz una vez más riendo y cantando ¡Qué bonita es la paz!!! Algunos no la saben respetar ¡Ay, qué bonita es la Paz todos los días al despertar!
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On This Day By Camila Russo, age 11 School: No. 13, Pehuajó – Buenos Aires On this day we want to manifest in favor of peace. There are many people to remember, who fought for humanity and have always wanted that peace reign. War is not good, nor is it good to fight, and human rights must be respected. People like: Mandela, Gandhi and many more have sought ways of peace. These heroes we can not forget. Thanks to them, because in this world they did not let us be defeated by fear! Long live Peace, the peace I give you, but am I able to complete it today? We want peace once again laughing and singing, How beautiful Peace is!! Some people do not know how to respect it. Oh, how nice Peace is, every day to wake up and see it shine!
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La Paz Por Valentina Suarez, 10 años La paz es libertad, armonía y felicidad, en los deseos más bellos siempre está la paz. El amor, los sentimientos y la paz es felicidad por la eternidad voy voy siendo feliz dejando la violencia que llegue a su fin.
Peace By Valentina Suarez, age 10 School: No. 13, Pehuajó – Buenos Aires Peace is freedom, harmony and happiness, the nicest wishes is always peace. Love, feelings, peace and happiness are eternally my choices! I am feeling happy, feeling that violence is coming to an end. 34
Children’s Peace Train Collection
Happy! 35
La Paz En Mi Propia Vida Por MEF de la Escuela 34, 10 años aprox. Cantar, reí, jugar tomados de la mano pidamos por la paz. La Paz con el vecino la paz en el trabajo la paz en la escuela. Luchemos por la paz. Que no existan las guerras que no peleen más que todos nos amemos para vivir en paz. Que todas las familias se quieran cada vez más y luchen codo a codo. ¡Bendita la paz!
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Peace In My Own Life By M.E.F., age approx. 10 School: No. 34, Pehuajó – Buenos Aires Sing, laugh, play holding hands ask for peace. Peace with neighbors Peace at work Peace in school. Fight for peace. I wish wars don’t exist anymore not to fight anymore asking of everybody love to live in peace. And for families to love each other every time more and and live happily side by side. Be Blessed, Peace!
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Monteros – Tucumán Sent by: María De Los Ángeles Albornoz, IFLAC Peace Ambassador in Tucumán
Paz En Mi Propia Vida Por Lourdes Roble, 12 años Si todos estamos unidos, unidos de verdad, nunca nos arrepentiremos de haber luchado por la paz. Caminemos todos juntos con una finalidad mantenernos unidos para preservar la paz.
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Peace In My Own Life By Lourdes Roble, age 12 School: B. Secondary Eva Perón – ex-Francisca Laguna, Monteros – Tucumán If we are all united, truly united, we will never regret having fought for peace. Let’s walk together with a purpose stick together to preserve peace.
Ailén Tamara Amado, Maribel Roble, Lourdes Roble, Camila Pereyra
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San Luis Province Sent by: Teresita Valcheff, IFLAC Peace Ambassador in San Luis
La Paz Por Mauricio Alcaraz, 11 años La paz no es pelear. La paz te lleva al Amor. La paz es dejarse Llevar por un buen camino. La paz no es la guerra No es pelearse a cada Rato. La paz es levantarse Por la mañana y disfrutar cada Rincón de tu casa. La paz es Amor y debe estar en nuestros Corazones. La paz no es quitarse las Cosas por jobi es pedir permiso Y gracias. Algunos no la valoran No tienen respeto, pero gracias A Mandela, Gandhi y Madre Teresa Muchos ya la valoran. ¡¡¡¡ Viva la paz!!!!
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Peace By Mauricio Alcaraz, age 11 School: No. 388 Sargent Eduardo Romero, Villa Mercedes – San Luis Peace is not to fight. Peace leads to Love. Peace allows To carry on a good road. Peace is better than war Not to fight! Peace is to get up In the morning and Enjoy every corner of your house. Peace is Love and It is in our Hearts. Peace is not a petty thing, It is not a hobby. Peace is to request permission And say thank you. Some do not give any value to it, They have no respect for others. But thanks To Mandela, Gandhi and Mother Teresa Many people appreciate PEACE. Long live peace!!
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Yanela Torres Godoy
Mauricio Alcaraz
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La Paz Por Yanela Abigail Torres Godoy, 11 años La paz sirve para que haya Amor armonía Y que no haya violencia y que Los lleven algunos juntos Y valorar lo que tienen. Por que si no hay paz No podrá ser feliz nunca La paz, sirve para ser feliz Somos todos amigos no hay. Que nunca hay que pelear Ahí que ser bueno con los compañeros Hay que sonreír siempre Hay que ser alegres y divertidos. La paz es que tratemos Bien a todos y que haya Paz y amor a todos Y que ¡¡ viva la paz!!!
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Peace By Yanela Abigail Torres Godoy, age 11 School: No. 388 Sargent Eduardo Romero, Villa Mercedes – San Luis Peace is for Love and harmony May it exist! No more violence People have to Appreciate what they have. Because if there is no peace You can never be happy Peace is for being happy We’re all friends there. You never have to fight again All have to be good with peers We will always smile And be happy and have fun. Peace is that we try to be nice to all And there will then be Peace and love in all to all And, long live peace!!
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Ceres – Santa Fe Sent by: Ime Biassoni, IFLAC Peace Ambassador in Ceres City – Santa Fe
Palomas Por Jazmín Barolo, 4 años La paz es un abrazo muy fuerte es una sonrisa abierta es Papá Noel con regalos y palomas que vuelan alto mariposas en mi casa letras dibujadas y un río en el que nadan patos.
Doves By Jazmín Barolo, age 4, Ceres – Santa Fe Peace is a very big hug it is an open smile it is Santa Claus with gifts and doves flying high butterflies in my house letters drawn and a river where ducks swim.
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Fuente de Paz Por Evangelina Rissolo, 6 aĂąos Fuego encendido fuente de vida los duendes de mi paĂs quieren ser magia para la paz. Sentido ĂĄrbol con lluvia de hojas te pido paz para esta Tierra mucha paz sin miserias.
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Source of Peace By Evangelina Rissolo, age 6, Ceres – Santa Fe Light the fire source of life elves of my country make magic and bring peace. Feel the tree and the rain on its leaves ask for peace for this Earth much peace without misery.
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Molly Wallace
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Australia Molly Wallace: Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Lara Fernie: What is Peace? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Anishka Perera: Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Isabella Wallace: Peace on Earth . . . . . . . . 55 Aaron Wallace: War and the Chickens . . . 57
Friends By Molly Wallace, age 5 One day, two people met on a savannah. They both said they could win a race. They went the same speed, They didn’t want to. And they didn’t know it, But they both won. They were then friends.
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What is Peace? By Lara Fernie, age 15 What is peace? Is it that absence of conflict or the presence of tranquillity? Is it the pureness of a child’s smile on their birthday? Or the calmness after doomsday? Is it the proud feeling after seeing a baby bird take their first flight? Or is it the silence after a fight? Is it the warmth of the sun? Or is it the cool of the moon? I think peace is all of the above For without hate, how could we appreciate love? Peace after war is just as important as peace after resolution And believing in that is a revolution Because once we realise that peace is there, and cannot be created That’s when we’ll feel the peace, reinstated.
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Hope By Anishka Perera, age 15 My uniform Wears a crimson disguise Stained with the blood of the enemy My blade glints in the rays of the sun My heart pummels my chest With every unwanted beat I step away slowly Trying to erase this sin from my mind But it is forever tattooed On my conscience This feeling of regret Will never leave my side A saffron robe Softly glides towards me Across the fields of carnage His eyes of charcoal Promise me That the worst is finally over With outstretched hands He beckons to me Showing me that kindness still exists And I utter a whisper To all my lost brothers And an apology to all my friends “Hatred ceases not by hatred But by love�
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Isabella Wallace
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Peace on Earth By Isabella Wallace, age 9 Why is peace forgotten sometimes? I wonder at night as I lie in bed. I feel so very grateful that I am safe. I feel sad as I think of those children Who have lost someone they loved through war. Why is there war? I don’t know. I know that peace is kindness, love and joy. Peace is compromise. I know that war is people fighting, Sometimes for their own country, Sometimes to defend another country. When there is war, peace is trapped in a jar. It only gets let out once fighting has stopped. When peace is let out, War then becomes trapped in the jar. I think the world needs peace. And peace makes the world go round.
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Aaron Wallace
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War and the Chickens By Aaron Wallace, age 9 Why does the TV news make me laugh? With chickens dancing on the screen. Then I turn as I hear grandma’s radio. News about war far away. Children dying in the Middle East, in Israel and Syria. I think how can that be true? Why don’t people get along very well? Why do children have to be hurt? That’s a hard one. Isn’t it? It seems things are going way too far, Families having to evacuate homes with children on their backs. I turn my head back, the chickens are still dancing on the TV screen. They are doing the Can-can.
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India Anjali Sinha: A World Where . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Neha Ray: Peace In My Own Life . . . . . . . 61
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A World Where By Anjali Sinha, age 15 Where the vision feels no fear, The breathe is no more nervous, The hands are no more bound, And stretch high to touch the sky. Where the heart is free to love, Where the mind is free to imagine, Where the feet are no more bound, And can walk on the right path. Where the ears need not strain anymore To hear a caring word from a friend, Where the lips are no more quiet, And are free to express the thoughts of the soul. Where people feel no fear, To lend a helping hand, To a neighbour in distress. Where every laughter comes from heart And every tear, of happiness. Where trust prevails in every heart And every reason of gratitude be justified. Where feelings know no boundaries, Where billions of hearts beat together, In the dawn of peace and joy, Oh lord, let this world awake.
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Neha Ray
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Peace In My Own Life By Neha Ray, age 15 Oh! There you see the world of dreams, The beauty of nature and the running stream. And see the crystal clear water That makes me flatter! In the garden, I sit, With the small picnic kit By the whispering stream In my world of dreams. What is it annoying me by?? It is the dragon fly!! Pouncing from rose to rose Suddenly disappears and appears on my nose!! It flies away in its own melody. This made me notice the squirrels in their harmony Prancing from tree to tree I wish, my life, to be so free. At last, I saw the man. Running to his work What else, after all, he can??? Just wait for some time! Notice the beauty of the nature’s rhyme Go beyond the devotion of creed and routine You’ll see the world, so warm and keen! The simple happenings of nature, We should often capture! In your hectic life, Before you dive, Just think about the mesmerizing surprises of nature And the birds’ sweet rapture. It is just the nature’s treasure, That gives you intense pleasure.
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Israel Zev Davis: Back to School Blues . . . . . . . . 63 Yael Peleg: My Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Tomer Ben-Ivgi: Peace in My Own Life . . . 67 Solomon Naor: Sderot Near Gaza . . . . . . . 68 Dan Cohen: Peace Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Monira Basiuni: A Mixed School of Jews and Arabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Ohad Levy: Quarrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Mohammed Salem: It is Possible to Live in Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 David Shalom: To Egypt and to Syria . . . . 79 Hadar Topaz: What is Peace? . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Children’s Peace Train Collection 62
Back to School Blues By Zev Davis, age 70 Never thought that I’d say this yes, staying home is boring, please chess and checkers, oh the ease the adults smile, ah the bliss, “curfew”, bless you, so you sneeze, it’s bullets passing, hear them hiss. Never thought that I’d say this, yes, staying home is boring, please Playground’s become a memory, fizzed long gone, no more birds sing, ceased, look outside, as my eyes feast, for the time being, four walls insist . . . Never thought that I’d say this yes, staying home is boring, please.
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Yael Peleg
My Peace By Yael Peleg, age 9 Peace is important Peace is good Peace can make us all happy Peace can be so close I want peace to come to us I want this peace to come Big peace, small peace, Good peace, Strong peace, Peace is amazing Peace is good World peace is perfect!!!
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Tomer Ben-Ivgi (8)
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Sderot Near Gaza By Solomon Naor, age 9 In Sderot in Israel
I wish our Palestinian neighbors
Every night and sometimes in the day,
Will make peace with us soon
We have to run to the shelter
And we can sleep in our beds
Because shrieking bombs
And play in the garden
Are thrown at us from Gaza.
Without fear And in peace.
It is very sad and my baby sister cries But I am a big boy and I do not cry
Children’s Peace Train Collection
Shoot Flowers for Peace 68
Five poems from Haifa. These poems were collected and selected by IFLAC’s Hebrew Secretary Atalya Rosenberg and translated into English by Ada Aharoni. There were 250 poems from this region!
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(Dan Cohen, Haifa, 12)
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Peace Dream By Dan Cohen, age 12 Tonight I dreamt a dream of peace It was so beautiful And full of joyful colors! I yearn for such a dream However I do not know Where to find it I think that God is not too helpful So we have to find someone else Perhaps the Pope? Perhaps the school teacher? Perhaps I should wait in the row And see how peace will grow Tall like golden wheat? I think the best thing is that each should try by himself To make the wheat grow tall and golden – Real Peace – not in a dream!
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(Monira Basiuni, Haifa, 13)
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A Mixed School of Jews and Arabs By Monira Basiuni, age 13 I am in a mixed school And my best friends are Jewish. Once I heard my father say that he did not like it But my mother said that it should be this way Because we live in Haifa. I invited Nirit to my home after school, My grandmother set the table for us And Nirit ate everything She said the kobeba was very tasty And that her mother was never at home at noon Because she was very busy at work. So where is your grandmother I asked? She did not answer And her eyes filled with tears.
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(Ohad Levy, Haifa, 12) 74
Quarrel By Ohad Levy, age 12 Yesterday I quarreled with my small brother Because of what he took from me He makes me so mad So I screamed at him. Ma came and said I have to be nice And my father said “remember you are bigger!” I have enough of him being smaller than me So what if he is small and I am big? It doesn’t mean I have to give up It doesn’t mean he’s allowed everything! When it really hurts me inside I pretend and leave So they don’t see I’m crying Because again they will say But you are bigger than him. I lay on my bed in my room And ma came and patted me She said I was sweet And that she was proud of me, Suddenly the hurt disappeared And everything ended. I want to hug my mum And my brother Yaki And tell them What I love most is Peace and calm.
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(Mohammed Salem, Haifa, 13)
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It is Possible to Live in Peace By Mohammed Salem, age 13 The Jews all the time speak about peace I do not believe them They always think they are the smartest. Sometimes the teacher speaks to me as if I was a small child And she tries to be so nice She thinks I do not understand‌ When I will be big I will have a splendid house In the nicest quarter of Haifa I will be a lawyer and I will speak Arabic For this is the language of my people. I will travel all over the world And when I come back I will show to every one Especially to the Jews That we can indeed reach peace If we really want it.
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(David Shalom, Haifa, 14)
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To Egypt and to Syria By David Shalom, age 14 I want to travel to Egypt and to Syria, My friend’s name is Brouria And she does not want to travel As she says there is war there I saw war only in films on television There they show dead and wounded people And it made me so sad! When I will be eighteen I will have a black hat An I will be a tank commander like My hero brother Danny. But I do not want to kill anybody. I hope the war will be over soon And we will have peace And I will travel with Brouria To Egypt and to Syria.
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IFLAC Kids meeting in Haifa
There are three IFLAC Kids Directors: Hadar Topaz (front, left) and Yotam and Noam Gurevich (back, right).
Visit IFLAC Kids on Facebook and LIKE!
Hadar's poem is in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew.
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What is Peace? By Hadar Topaz, age 13, Director IFLAC Kids For me peace is No beatings, No swearing, Everyone friends, And no one opponent. Hello to my country Israel, I wish you: No soldiers killed in wars, Peace with all our neighbors in the Middle East, Then we will not need any army at all! “And turn your spears into ploughshares.”
Qu’est-ce que la Paix? Pour moi la paix est Pas de coups, Pas d’insulte, Tout le monde amis, Et pas un seul adversaire. Bonjour à mon pays d’Israël, Je vous souhaite: Pas de soldats tués dans les guerres, La paix avec tous nos voisins du Moyen-Orient, Ensuite, nous n’aurons pas besoin d’ armée du tout! “Et transformer vos lances en socs de charrue”.
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Qué es la Paz? Para mí la paz es No hay golpes, No insultar, Todo el mundo, amigos Y nadie oponente. Hola a mi país Israel, Le deseo: No hay soldados muertos en las guerras, La paz con todos nuestros vecinos en el Oriente Medio, Entonces no necesitaremos ningún ejército en absoluto! “Y a su vez sus lanzas en arados”.
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Peace is meeting new people from different places.
These Children's Peace Train drawings are made by Korean children between 5 and 7 years old.
We are not against colors.
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Kenya These poems from Kenya were collected by IFLAC Peace Ambassador Muthoni Likimani. She also translated the Kiswahli poems into English. Joyce Wangari: Our Love Our Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Henry Ole Kulet: Cry for Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Caroline Ndiritu: For Hope We Live . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Ian Gichuki: My Peace My Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Maria Makabao: Why Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Perpetual Eddah: If Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Alice K’anjejo: Peace! A Word Well Renowned . . . . 91 Mbula Natalie: Two Hands, One Heart . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Lisa Mwangi: A Plea For Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Clare Wahome: Restore My Kenya!!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Joy Hukka Bad’aaft: World Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Pauline Mirikau: Let There Be Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Akpovo Bamidele: In the Name of Peace . . . . . . . . . 97 Michelle Musomba: In Pursuit of Peace . . . . . . . . . .
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Stephanie Muthoni Kariuki: A Cry For Peace . . . . . . 100 Tiffany Nyoike: Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Sabina Khabur: It Comes From Within . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Anne Kambo: Need For Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
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Our Love Our Peace By Joyce Wangari In twos and threes, Of peace we sing, The birds on trees, Of peace we cling, Like in bees, Of course, we bring. We walk with calm, For peace we have, We walk with some, For peace we love, We boast of calm, For peace we drive.
Cry for Joy By Henry Ole Kulet Gentle breeze that blows You who beats our brows Dry the tears of those who mourn Stiffle the cry of those who moan Cry may endure the night long Delayed is the peace they long But for sure joy comes in the morn Cry of joy resonates with the dawn.
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For Hope We Live By Caroline Ndiritu Why does the sun rise each day? MY GIFT Why do we get up every morning? WhyBy is Cynthia there breath Katumbiin our work? Why are we gathered here, dream fame, FromAfar andtonear? A thing to claim, Hope To makewe us hope same, For peace, Never to shame, Oh! My gift of peace.
Not because the path to peace Stretches nice,towide With time try, and green Every night a Beneath our feetcry, As I go high, Not because the skies And just ask why, Are calm above our heads Oh! My gift of peace. Not because the winds of change Blow nice and easy on our governments But for Hope For peace, we hope MY PEACE
Not because mangoes of peace Trevor juicy Tuja and ripe HangByheavy, For our children to run and pick Of peace we bloom, But because our talks Of peace no boom, The fraternity For in everybetween room. our nations Is seed in theasground It comes zoom. And there will be a harvest Asmore we all unrest pray, Of no
For peace, we hope Not because yesterday was full Not because today is fresh But because tomorrow is fertile Tomorrow is different Tomorrow is new And look Tomorrow comes... Hope For peace, we hope Hope for the Reduction Abolition Prevention Of conflict Of small arms
dry But look, leaders and speakers are gathering And order peace agenda order papers will flow House business, will be peace business MP Will stand for Member of Peace How honourable! Hope For peace, we hope
The path to peace is paved With a dedication to direct dialogue We must continue to swing wide open, The doors of discussion We must continue to join hands Across our lands Across our lakes For peace sake Do we search for peace As we search for oil For precious stones For shares and stocks The asset value of peace Will never drop It stays at the top
Hope is a sparkle in our eye Hope is a twinkle in our smile Hope is a glow on our brow For peace, we hope
So when you go from here Make peace your destination Whatever the nation Peace is an option!
For peace every day, No words to say, Not because the taps of peace never run Without peace we don’t stay.
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Why does a baby crawl? Why does a widow hum? Why does a pastoralist Take his herds and flocks out each day And the fisherman cast out his net? Why does a builder place, Brick on brick on brick? Why do we put our heads together? Hope For peace, we hope
Children’s Peace Train Collection
My Peace My Food
Why Peace
By Ian Gichuki
By Maria Makabao
Like a smile in the woods, A journey for goods, All to bring foods, In a hut without moods, My peace my food, To keep I should.
A river that flows A heart that shows, It comes and grows, Of peace that glows.
With peace I die, With wings I fly, Up in the sky, With God to rely, My peace my food, To keep I should.
In it we dwell. For you I tell, Peace in a shell, Knows not to sell.
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Poems from Riara Group Of Schools
If Only By Perpetual Eddah, F3 The memories still fresh Vivid pictures clawing at my mind The scent of danger in the air Rippling of electricity through the sky The pounding of feet near our town Bitter wails Swords clashing Whips thrashing Blood flowing Disaster becomes an overwhelming factor Tears caress my cheeks As my heart shatters in pieces Pain and grief envelope me As the destruction becomes evident A nation so strong Promising in all ways Now a pile of ashes With a cloud of doom above it If only we had joined hands Had we not taken sides Had we fostered peace Had we tried to be united Then maybe we could have covered milestones. Maybe we could have reached the sky. 90
Peace! A Word Well Renowned By Alice K’anjejo, F1 I bring forth my empty hand, beckoning for a world so brand, lives paused, victims out of breath, knives, guns, pistols, blood oozing, Generating a generation of loathfulness Shameful hands throbbing non innocent threats, Peace! A word well renowned, yet some ignore. Boom! Booms! Blasting! Blazing! Brutality! Bribes! Kill and fight for he belongs to a different tribe? Different tribes everywhere losing lives; or maybe it’s cause l’m black and he’s white? Shame! Deteriorating our society! Peace! A word well renowned, but a number ignore. Elected leaders bring forth conflicts instead of solutions, Mother crying for their innocent children, Tears washed away by the vast sea of life. Ding-dong ditch becomes ding-dong war! A man may fight for just but a penny at his door! Uncouth behaviors hovering around us. Surely this antagonizing fever, Of not being your brother’s keeper! Peace! A word well renowned, yet others ignore. Then I imagine a world full of might, No more wars, no more fights. Peace in all corners, greatness flowing. The smell of freedom aerating and blowing; But how could this be, if we don’t do this together? Do you want a world of people dying more than ever? Or do we stand and fight! For peace around the world! I shall not, cannot, WILL NOT join this tag of war! Innocent victims killed with no sympathy, Alas! I shall not! Let us build the society, develop our economy...for Peace! Is a word well renowned, and should NEVER be ignored. 91
Two Hands, One Heart By Mbula Natalie, F3 Show me a weapon and l’ll show you forlorn I tire to constantly hear on the news. That it’s a deplorable state of affairs Deplorable? No, maybe a self-willed state of affairs But l prefer to say, ‘Once you rattle the snake of war, you must get ready to be bitten by the serpent of anguish’. Someone once said, ’What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. But is that what you would tell to a victim Of war and political unrest? That it was a slip of the tongue, Made by a political leader, a weapon killer, the mouth is. Which led to the slip of a sword. Leading to the sleeping of his beloved. Yes, we may be different, but these differences Create a sequence of unbreakable competence To make something worthless, priceless. Two fingers one aim, A symbol of something so profound In order to make a change It begins Here and Now.
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A Plea For Peace By Lisa Mwangi, F3 Boom! The bomb explodes And then the sound of the gong Another few hundred lost Their bodies lay as cold as snow frost. She looks around her The heaps of rubble Her home destroyed Her family, all dead Four gunshots to the head Mother, father, where are you? The images imprinted in her mind She wishes she could find A way to forget them A way to escape this nightmare so real Or is this surreal? Their screams rent the air Her head bowed in prayer Praying to her God above If only He would have Some mercy upon her Upon her country...Her homeland. A war-torn nation they say it is The orphaned children...among them she is No education...where are the days When they learnt under the trees? Oh, would you hear my earnest cry My plea for peace.
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Restore My Kenya!!! By Clare Wahome, F3 Paint me a picture l want to see Educate the people or let me be. Accept my apology and let me say Consider a world without a ray Encroached in bitterness without peace. People pondering wondering in pain Expecting you to care And you, just hear no evil see no evil Committed to the statutes top real Encroached in bitterness without peace. Pedestrian’s motorists now smiling Extinct will be the cases of defiling Away with religious intolerance Competing with good governance Encroached in bitterness without peace. Proud I am of the Kenya l wanted Experiencing peace, blessings counted Across the borders, we’ll make it last Come together so no more to any blast Encroached in bitterness we shall be without peace.
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World Peace By Joy Hukka Bad’aaft, F3 Won’t be getting any sleep until l feel my Fingers sting. When everything I’ve ever felt Is on the floor and left to bleed Until I’ve washed off all this skin And I’m spiraling forward into the end My tortured soul will find no words Nothing to define a reason to exist Violence, tribalism, poverty is in the very air we breathe It wraps us in its cocoon and traps us Suffocating, fighting for peace we are The babble leaves me in a daze Behind my eyes lie nothing but flames The only light allowing some hope It erodes me into dust like crashing waves World peace is what we crave but to do this...our own souls we must save from leaders claiming to give us the perfect Prescription, no more fighting, no more tears no more holding back our fears like a phoenix from the ashes, we will rise and so goodbye to the demise of all insecurities Let us drain our souls of all its impurities and breathe in intoxicating euphoria with peace for all humanity and just one single need to satisfy the appetite to rend to tear to fee
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Let There Be Peace By Pauline Mirikau, F3 Beautiful bright dawn Sunny dandy and happy Bamboo bending in the wind Birds fly away In the bright blue sky Yes, there is peace. The children in school Learning and playing Ahmed and Jane in office Working while chatting Hand in hand Improving the economy Every Kamau, Kuria and Kioko Up and about Talking interacting and sharing Buying and selling, laughing and hugging Surely, there is peace. Then came the blood red sky A dark and gloomy dawn Ahmed and Jane in office No longer chatting while working Goodbye talking, interacting and sharing Now despair sorrow and weeping Alas where is our peace We miss the good old days Ah yes those nostalgic memories The streets ablaze with love and life When song and dance filled the air Enjoyed by all Regardless of tribe and religion Different, we are not Divide, we should never be And bring back our peace we must 96
In the Name of Peace By Akpovo Bamidele, F4 What is the victory in war? Tell this soul what it is When your waters and fields are tarnished And defiled By phantoms of blood and gone. Of what consequence is it? When the trophies we reap Are of broken bones And countless headstones Of orphans’ tears Newly formed fears. What beauty is held When dust and ashes Blot out the skies And block the stars from our eyes. No... There is no meaning in war So why do we shun peace? And the prosperity it could bring We should fight for a new dawn And let go of this demon of war.
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In Pursuit of Peace By Michelle Musomba, F4 I walked across, this distant land Know the pathway, Like the back of my hand. The lonely roads, the tempest sea And yet here, Peace l couldn’t see I lived and breathed The essence of a traveller Searching for release In the simplest form, that is peace So l walked into a church hoping to find my peace In the folds of Mary’s veil And scores Of blessed virgin Mary, unto thee we hail But l didn’t find it there That wasn’t my peace I sought for peace In a field of heather Where the weather was pleasant And all was fine Yet l still didn’t see the peace Which mattered most to me I travelled the world And the seven seas Only to realize the peace l desired Was hidden within me It lay in the purity of my heart And the energy of this soul All along l had a storm Brewing within me And with its calming Came the peace I’d always wanted Now, then and for all eternity 98
Children’s Peace Train Collection 99
A Cry For Peace By Stephanie Muthoni Kariuki, 2P A scream here, a scream there No echo of peace! A rope here, a machete there. The screams of the deceased Life now a dark hole My mystery of peace, difficult to unfold We cry for peace! A dark glare, on the meadow once fair The birds are not quiet, no sweet whistles in the air A bloody mess, no love and care The brave soldiers, once our heroes Have now dropped down to zero A land once full of bliss Now a bottomless pit with no echo of peace. I miss the days of old When l would walk through the streets bold Now the canopies are gaping down The circus empty without clowns The little children masked into monsters Their little fingers hang up war posters Please we beg, save our life from this dumpster. There is hope at the end A light at this dead end With joined hands we defend Our grabbed land, torn hearts Our families in their death We are one, no beast of war Peace! yes peace within the deepest core.
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Peace By Tiffany Nyoike, F3 Shall our swords speak And threaten our cohesive nature Lifeless shall the world be Oh hear my limpid cry Violence shan’t blanket the tranquility That adorned us all With clubs and spears Shall we come at each other? Like savages Caring not of the crying children! Whose eyes have been stained By the dripping blood of each other Our hearts pierced With the arrow of hatred Mindless of our actions We care not the slightest Who we hurt Chocked to the core with disunity Black or white Is not just colour Whichever God we believe in Don’t we come from the same One The language whichever l speak Can’t we all speak the language of serenity? The smiling children no longer happy They walk with lifeless eyes That carry traces of dried tears The streets now empty
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Everyone caged behind their door’s locks. Even with eyes tightly shut My sweet dreams turn to sour nightmares. When shall we stand And turn a blind eye to our indifferences. When l ask Shall we learn to speak The language of love When shall peace prevail? With love can we build the crumbling earth. Love will be the voice of unity We shall sing one song in harmony For only through love Can even the blackest of hearts Be bleached white May the light of peace shine upon the world.
It Comes From Within By Sabina Khabur, F2 It comes from within It can’t flow to someone else If you don’t have it within I tried to search for it within But it unveiled to be fruitless I felt shouts and screams inside Restless with no place to hide No one came to my side They all said I lied But it does come from within
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My neighbour doesn’t have it He goes killing and beating He doesn’t have it in him It was destroyed Like I said it comes from within The child who died yesterday Had it within but they were jealous So they took it from him Leaving him with death inside He did not have it within It was never with them They tried to take it But they kept throwing it away They removed it from everyone’s souls And left them dead within It came knocking on my door Told me it wanted a home I gave it a home, the home was within The peace from within.
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Need For Peace By Anne Kambo, F2 Neglect the peace Leave nothing but a piece Of the love once to tease Just hate now never to seize Can’t they see, see how much we need peace War which has brought nothing but sorrow Sorrow which we seem to borrow All we need to do is make a stand Forget and neglect to set The goals of the souls that uphold The fallen hero shamed to a zero The highest bidder now a feeder None of this seems to differ With peace restored they will rise This peace renewed will bring a prize All we need to do is make a stand and give a hand The blame is so insane The fingers that point tend to linger To put the fault to all who bolt Why not take responsibility of sanity Make peace and campaign to stop war Shame those who try to support death Aim to change their opinions on theft Change just one and the rest think its best To achieve this peace to bring growth All we need to do is make a stand And give a hand
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Myanmar Peace in My World By Moe Hay Mar Kaung, age 14 Whether it’s in expressions, Like 和平, مالس, and pace, Peace can create connections, Within the human race. Birthplace of new concepts, Forgiveness and respect, Where people learn to accept, All the significant aspects. Cooperation in atmosphere, Generosity as well, No need for any fear, Cast by a wonderful spell. Hope, trust, happiness, Calmness and clarity, No more emptiness, Just immense prosperity.
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Romania Pace (Teodora Sirbulescu, 13) Nu e bucurie mare Ca pacea dintre popoare. Tot romanul o iubeste Si de ea se veseleste. Soarele pe cer, Zambet cu mister, Un copil visand Pace pe pamant. Pacea-i lucru sfant In suflet si in gand, Binecuvantare De la Domnul mare. Nu e cu mirare Ca mereu e soare Cand e bucurie, Pace, armonie.
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Peace By Teodora Sirbulescu, age 13 There is no such joy As peace among nations Romanians love it And find joy in it. Sun in the sky A mysterious smile A child dreaming Peace on Earth. Peace is a holy thing In soul and thought Blessing From the great Lord. No wonder There is always sunshine When there is joy, Peace, harmony.
Translation: Tatomir Ion-Marius, IFLAC Director for Hungary and Romania
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South Korea Kyle Ellison: Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Kim Gwan Shik: My Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Kim Jo-han: The Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Kim Mun-hui: Peace in Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Park Jae-oo: Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Poems from Seoul American High School Special Education: Asia Daniels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Brenda Guzman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Wade Semilota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Jeani Spillman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Sarah Wiemken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Poems about the Sewol Ferry accident . . 122
Children’s Peace Train Collection 108
Peace By Kyle Ellison, age 15
PEACE P-eople who are happy E-ither to love or relief A-t your own pace C-hoose as side friends or family E-legantly with your life
PEACE Peace can be relief join the force of happiness trusting hands of life erasing all regret
PEACE Smiling of all faces, laughs of voices, singing of nature. We all endure, keep peace internally and externally to keep our souls pure.
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My Peace By Kim Gwan Shik, age 17 When I sleep I feel the Peace I want to feel the Peace When I eat I feel the Peace. I am a Peaceful guy.
The Place By Kim Jo-han, age 19 The place where children run happily My inner space The place where people don’t jeer My inner stage The place where mother breathes My inner village The place where I want to live My inner peace
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Peace in Life By Kim Mun-hui, age 17 Peace is smaller than your thought You may think Peace is no war But peace is not huge Peace is just you eating noodles Or sleeping happily Peace is really simple Feel peace in your life
Peace By Park Jae-oo, age 15 Peace of country Peace of earth Peace of space Peace of all the space world
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Children’s Peace Train Collection
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Poems from Seoul American High School Special Education, LIMS Teacher: Tracey Van De Veire
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Asia Daniels (19)
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Brenda Guzman (18)
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Wade Semilota (15)
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Jeani Spillman (17)
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Sarah Wiemken (16)
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Poems about the Sewol Ferry accident On April 16, 2014, the ferry Sewol capsized and more than 200 people drowned, most of them South Korean boys and girl students from the same senior high school class bound from Incheon harbor for an educational excursion on Cheju Island. The boat was overloaded, and the children were not allowed to flee for safety. Instead the captain and crew fled, abandoning the children. On May 18, 2014, I asked high school and middle school students, between the ages of 14 and 16 who I teach once a month up at a Buddhist temple, named Hoeryong-Sa (Return Dragon Temple) on a mountain side to write a poem about the ferry accident. The following is a collection of some of their efforts, and they link together as if one poem. Even though the poets’ names are not given, I can share this book with them. Fred Jeremy Seligson for the student poets:
Sea Happy children took a trip Who was looking over the children? Those children were swallowed by the sea Inside the sea, the children are suffering Inside the sea, the children are sad The sea swallowed the children The sea is very cruel
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Flowers Flowers are going to bloom in their glory soon Flowers that were brightly shining Flowers that everybody waits for They disappear in the sea suddenly
Us We can’t meet the children Waiting for us Nothing can help Searching or waiting Even so, we are waiting and waiting We believe you will come back And are waiting
When When cold and heavy hands Tied you up When hands pulled you And sank to the bottom There are many broken bodies In a peaceful place
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You You have lived your own lives After the ocean swallowed you up We could see your bodies Not adults But children my own age I feel so sorry And full of pain Sorry we are the same – students Sorry we couldn’t help you
Children Children who the sea took Never come back Children who the sea took Never come back Children who Korea’s institutions killed Are never coming back The boat that sailed for people’s greed Can’t emerge Even if the government officers act Those children can never come back We can’t see their smiling faces
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I’ll Do Anything for You I’ll save you from the time of pain I’ll save you from the place like Hell Even if we save you, You can’t come back ever We’ll comfort your sad and lonely hearts We’ll remember you forever
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United Kingdom Carla Melaco: A Family’s Escape . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Katie Morris: Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Iona Mandal: What Peace Means to Me . . . . . . 129
A Family’s Escape By Carla Melaco, age 14 Careful I hide Scared of my mother My dad and my sister And sister and brother Careful I hide Scared of their words Cruel and mean Inside it hurts Quiet I cry Through day into night Their hands slap me hard As I cower in fright Still I can find My pure tranquil peace 126
Away from the monsters The brutes, the beasts Because in my special place Where I sit quiet alone I find I’m content My own peaceful throne And such is the place My family should be No need for fighting Or shouting at me And this is why I’ve made them a place Each one with their own Peaceful escape
Peace By Katie Morris, age 10 Silent still and waiting Sitting there whilst quaking, Peace in my world Can still be unfurled, silent still and waiting.
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Iona Mandal
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What Peace Means to Me By Iona Mandal, age 8 Peace to me is calmness The grass making waves to the wind In fields of yellow buttercups Or daffodils swaying to the breeze. Peace is content in my mind Over a good book I read In a lick from my dog Or watching raindrops fall. Peace to me is harmony In the birdsong at dawn In the chime of church bells In the prayers at evensong. Peace is no war Countries seeking no revenge Life without misery No poverty, hunger or sadness. Without peace there would be frowns More unhappy faces No happy memories Life would cease to exist. Have enough, no greed Practice peace and make peace Make sure others seek peace too.
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United States Mariam Semanda: Peace in My Life . . . . . . . . . . 130 Chloe Silbermann: Reading Gives Me Peace . . . 131 Lana Chang: Clouds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Owen Taylor Smith: Statue of Liberty . . . . . . . . 132 Jack Wells-Benson: *Peace* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 John Vernaglia: Achieving Harmony . . . . . . . . . 134
Peace in My Life By Mariam Semanda, age 8 Waves passing Birds chirping Kids walking by Babies laughing Rainbows appearing And soft music playing And That’s the Peace in my Life.
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Reading Gives Me Peace By Chloe Silbermann, age 6 I am Chloe and I love to read. I love to read happy, good and interesting books. Reading calms me down. Reading is good for your brain.
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Clouds By Lana Chang, age 11 Clouds‌ Are like a storybook, But You can write the stories. A test With no wrong answers. Make them what you Want them to be. No rules, No boss. With them, You can use your Imagination. Because You are free To make it Yours.
Statue of Liberty By Owen Taylor Smith, age 8 Liberty, liberty, Statue of Liberty: We hope your torch is feeling fine.
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*Peace* By Jack Wells-Benson, age 8 Peace is like lying on a really soft cloud and eating a big piece of puffy cotton candy. Peace is putting your feet into hot summer sand. Peace is fresh, juicy summer fruit dripping down my chin. Peace is flying a kite under the hot yellow sun. Peace is fireworks shooting up in the air on the 4th of July. Peace is eating pineapple In the summer time. Peace is happiness like a bird tweeting in a tree. But Peace is also the whistle of the wind And the crunch of snow in the winter time
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Achieving Harmony By John Vernaglia, age 14 Oh holiest of holy, as I stand in your throne room surrounded by song Engulfed in quiet while joyous notes surround me My mind is at peace. The words of your song have filled my ears and brightened my soul. My very inner being is in harmony with the world around me. Oh holiest of holy, as I sit in your temple surrounded by history With a worn prayer book in my hands I mumble the words of my grandparents Remembering the people who have come before me As I am connecting to my ancestry. Oh holiest of holy, as I sing in your sanctuary surrounded by community The voices of others sharing this moment with me In collective joy I know I am part of something larger and this song has brought me to you I feel your presence, oh holiest of holy.
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Venezuela Poems from Isla Margarita, collected by Maigualida Pérez Gonzales, IFLAC Director in Venezuela. Andrea León . . . . . . . . . . 135
Alexandra León . . . . . . . . 136 Sabrina León . . . . . . . . . . 137 Richbell Torres . . . . . . . . 138
Andrea León, age 10 Los niños de Venezuela queremos la paz porque la paz significa igualdad e igualdad es felicidad y nuestro mundo en el futuro estaría lleno de dicha y prosperidad. The Children of Venezuela want peace because peace means equality and equality is happiness and our world in the future would be full of happiness and prosperity.
IFLAC Latin America: iflacenarg.wordpress.com Paziflac: facebook.com/paziflac 135
Alexandra Le贸n, age 7 Paz es amar y cuidar a mis hermanos Peace is love and care for my brothers 136
Sabrina Le贸n, age 7 La Paz es bella y es amor que comparto con mi familia. Quiero Paz para Venezuela. Esa es la Paz sobre mi propia vida. Peace is beautiful and is also the love that I share with my family. I want peace to Venezuela. That is Peace in my own life. 137
Richbell Torres, age 10 La paz significa igualdad y amor, tambiĂŠn felicidad, todos los niĂąos de Venezuela adoramos la paz y los adultos, pero yo amo mucho la paz y toda mi familia tambiĂŠn. Peace means equality and love, also happiness, all children in Venezuela adore peace and also adults, but I love so much peace and all my family too. 138
Hey! Please spread Peace.
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The History of the Children’s Peace Train By Timothy Spearman Extract from his book “The History of the Peace Train” (2012) How was The History of the Peace Train born? Like most ideas, it began with a dream. The Children’s Peace Train movement was the dream of Jeremy Seligson, an American professor living in South Korea. We all dream, sometimes involuntarily during sleep, sometimes when daydreaming, and then there are our dreams – our aspirations and hopes. We can equivocate between these two uses of the word ‘dream’ because both express an alternative to our mundane existence, our conscious waking reality, our now, our present. While the international peace train initiative was spawned by the collected dreams of many individuals, Professor Jeremy Seligson has done more to bring the next generation into the effort. It is this key player who realized that children should be the engineers of the Peace Train. Like many dreams, the tangible real-life dream was preceded by a nocturnal dream. In this case, dreamer Jeremy Seligson had an extraordinary dream one night in the wee hours of the morning. It was a vivid dream, in which a tapestry of interconnecting rail lines wove the fabric of different lands and cultures into an intricate design of peace and good will. Like many other projects of The World Dreams Peace Bridge, the Peace Train Project began with a dream. This is the dream recorded by Jeremy Seligson in Korea on July 26, 2002: I am traveling with a group of friends in the countryside in the middle of nowhere. We have been in a village. I’ve wandered off on my own, but a responsible young man fetches me and says, ‘A train has come…’ I am in line with the group for lunch at the cafeteria. While in line Ada Aharoni (the founder of IFLAC – International Forum for Literature and Culture of Peace) comes over to me and smiling, 140
says, ‘We are more successful than the other peace groups because it is not so well organized...Our group always gets together on time when it is time to move on.’ Our long black locomotive travels all the way across the country to Washington, D.C., where outside the Capitol steps it is applauded by President Gore and many people dressed in suits. A large white banner around the smokestack reads, Peace Train. This makes me joyful. I leap high in the air and float partway down a hill, landing on the feet. Others around me are surprised I could do that… Since that fateful night, Jeremy, Peace Train passengers, and crew, have been holding Peace Train Workshops all over the world. One of the best publicized and most successful was staged at the Association for the Study of Dreams Conference held between June 27 and July 1 [2003] at the Radisson Hotel in Berkeley, California. The dreams and peace train Workshops were conducted by Jeremy Seligson, May Tung, and Jean Campbell. The highlight was the display of Peace Trains from around the world. But the Peace Train Project, begun by The World Dreams Peace Bridge in 2002, soon picked up steam and within no time at all was speeding around the world on its relentless mission to bring peace and goodwill to the masses of people in need of hope in their war torn districts of the world. The hope carried by the Peace Train to every city, village and hamlet it passes through is perhaps expressed best in Jeremy’s own words as in the May 12 e-mail written from the original Peace Train dreamer to UNESCO in Seoul: Dear Mrs. Yeon, Could you please forward this explanation to your counter-part in UNESCO North Korea. It would be wonderful if North Korean 141
children could draw pictures of peace and make their own North Korean Children’s Peace Train which could link up with the South Korean Children’s Peace Train and make one Korean Children’s Peace Train of it. What a good example they could set for the adults on both sides. In another of his brainchildren, Jeremy explained the purpose of the international Peace Train movement: The Peace Train is a dream on behalf of the people and other creatures of this planet, and especially for the children and future generations who will inherit the condition of life on Earth from us. It is a dream of love and prosperity, of harmony and joy, of self-confidence and personal security. It is a dream of a co-operative family, local and world community, one that creates an environment for respectful settlement of disputes. And it began with an actual dream I had on July 26th, 2002... Jeremy’s vision is brought into even sharper focus when he explains the central role children play in the Peace Train movement: The first trains began rolling in from children in South Korea. It was here that the World Children’s Peace Train first began, with art works collected by my students at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. They went out to playgrounds, elementary and middle school classrooms, Sunday schools, art schools, youth groups and other places to lead Peace Train workshops, collect and construct trains together with the children. The children made Peace Trains and at the same time received Peace Training. They learned to express their own desires and feelings for peace, as well as to work together with others on a project for peace, a project which was part of a greater design, involving children around the whole world...
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It is apt that the Peace Train begins in Seoul, Korea, because this is perhaps the most dangerous place in the world to live, being faced with the moment by moment threat of annihilation by the missiles and artillery of the North Korean military, stationed just some 230 kilometers away...
Children’s Peace Train Collection
The divided Koreas
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IFLAC Children’s Peace Train Poetry Festival 2014 www.iflacpeacetrain.wordpress.com
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