Life in 2010 - My first poem

A colleague of mine asked me to write a poem for her 4th grade son on “Life in 2010” This is my first ever poem in English and I said yes right away without realizing my limitation. I didn’t want to expose my cold and cracked feet to her. I am no Frost or Shelly but felt like a jelly now, fluid and slimy. I went on the web and did a few searches to gather some idead, but my conscience was against plagiarism and the search results were futile. I pulled myself back into the rib cage and let my heart mute my mind. I realized what came from my heart was nothing but poetry. Here is the story of how it came together….

What is it going to be in 2010?

I am afraid, I am afraid….
Of war cry kids in every country
I am afraid, I am afraid….
Of hunger and thirst kids die in every country
I am afraid, I am afraid….
For peace and money adults fight in every country
I am afraid, I am afraid….
Why all National Anthems are somber cry tunes?
I am afraid, I am afraid….
It is same every where in the world
I am afraid, I am afraid….
Will anyone be happy in 2010?

I shared this with my colleague and she asked why does it have to be so raw and lugubrious? Can’t life in 2010 be fun? I had no answers but to ask myself to be a 4th grade child and not an adult. In the meantime I shared it with my friend and he came back like an echo in a few minutes.

I feel you shouldn’t end it there……
Build another stanza ………… something on the lines of I asked this question to my mom and she said that every dark cloud has a silver lining…and so am hopeful that things will be ok……May be you can build the second stanza on the lines of “I am hopeful, I am hopeful”……….
This looks like a poetry on passing thought……..
A second para of hope and faith will make it complete and balanced…..

I asked mom with care and concern
How can we end war and bring peace?
How can we wipe pangs of hunger and thirst?
How can we teach about greed and glut?
How can we sing joyful Anthems again?
I am hopeful my son, she said
I am hopeful, I am hopeful my silver lining
You can paint the world with peace
You can end war, hunger and thirst
Let’s love and live
Let’ s share and live
Let’s laugh and live
Let’s hope and live
The only way to cross the ocean of life

That is good…..can be better still……..get that “repetition thing of the first one…….

Here it is all in one piece …..

I am afraid, I am afraid….
Of war cry kids in every country
I am afraid, I am afraid….
Of hunger and thirst kids die in every country
I am afraid, I am afraid….
For peace and money adults fight in every country
I am afraid, I am afraid….
Why all National Anthems are somber cry tunes?
I am afraid, I am afraid….
It is same every where in the world
I am afraid, I am afraid….
Will anyone be happy in 2010?

I asked mom with care and fright
How can we end war and bring peace?
How can we wipe pangs of hunger and thirst?
How can we teach about greed and glut?
How can we sing joyful Anthems again?
I am afraid, I am afraid….

I am hopeful my son, she said
I am hopeful, I am hopeful my silver lining…
You can paint the world with peace
I am hopeful, I am hopeful my silver lining….
You can end war, hunger and thirst
I am hopeful, I am hopeful my silver lining….
You can sing joyful anthems again
I am hopeful, I am hopeful my silver lining….

Let’s love and live
Let’s share and live
Let’s laugh and live
Let’s hope and live
I am hopeful, I am hopeful my silver lining…
The only way to cross the ocean of life
I am hopeful, I am hopeful my silver lining….