Children need to breathe the air of protest
walk together, arm in arm with strangers
wear badges of hope and T-shirts with lifelines
Sing words of wisdom and history
chant choric responses of camaraderie
in a mass movement of human voices.
Understand the justice of causes
and the constant need for change.
The dignity of freedom
and the strength of real choices
Find courage to lead others by honourable action
spreading metaphors of compassion
over roads of pain and tears.
Letting the certainty of liberty
beat with their hearts
as strong as empathy
And may peace be tattooed
on every breath
they ever breathe.
© M.L.Emmett