In the run up to National Poetry Day I will be featuring poems by children’s poets on this years NPD theme – Freedom! This one is from the excellent poet, poetry editor, textbook and information book author, John Foster.
All that they want
All that they want is to live in peace.
All that they want is to be free.
All that they want is to find a country
Where they can live like you and like me.
All that they wanted was a future
Across the sea in another land.
All that they wanted was a safe passage.
All that they needed was a helping hand.
But all that the others wanted was money.
They said it was safe but they lied.
They didn’t care about the people.
They didn’t care if they lived or died.
All that he wanted was somewhere for his children
Where they could grow up safe and free
But what a terrible price he paid
When the boat capsized and they drowned in the sea.
All that the others wanted was money
They didn’t care about the lives that were lost
As they counted the note with blood on their hands,
The grieving father counted the cost.
All that they want is to live in peace,
In freedom and in harmony.
All that they want is to find a country
Where they can live like you and like me.
.
© 2017 John Foster
One of John’s latest books is a Rocketful of Space Poems, illustrated by the wonderful Korky Paul. I’m very proud to have a poem in there!
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