Invisible Children Forced to tote a gun,Instead of having funAs little children might,Brainwashed and numbed they fight-Child soldiers. While heaving silent sobs,Of everything pure their lives are robbed.To bus stops daily they tramp,A hospital serves as a camp.Packed together on the floor-This is the only safe placeFor the children who will tasteThe fear, it seems, forever more. Uganda, oh Uganda,Your land weeps with the tearsOf these little ones' unspoken fears.When, oh when!Will there be peace,From this slaughter, sweet release? No more these babes can cry,For if to start, they'd never finish;Sobbing for the ones who dieAnd their tears could not diminishThe terrible ache inside.
Crying for the tiny boy,
His heart growing cold to joy,As he watches the murder of his friend.Sorrowing for the heartbroken motherWho fears the more for the younger brotherOf her darling child disappeared. Mourning for the kidnapped girl,Struggling to preserve the precious pearlOf innocence and all that's pure. Weeping for a nation brokenTorn by war and evil's tokenViolence and lust for power,Found prowling next to hate's bower. Meanwhile, the world stands muteAs pain and bitterness take root,And children grow old before their time-Tell me, what is there to do but rhyme?These words only dimly can conveyThe devastation happening every day. When will we take a stand?I tell you the time is now at hand!Make the choiceTo be the voiceFor those that have none-It starts with one.
this made me cry we sould be in africa not iraq
valerie m ellison
So you want us to invade African nations to genocide? The president isn't exactly popular for going into Iraq to stop a genocide; I don't think any president will be trying to stop another one any time soon.
John Colby- 17, Tampa, FL
ISn't Iraq hypothetically IN Africa? I know its in the middle east, but isn't the middle east in Africa?
Actually, the Middle East is considered part of the Asian Continent. But the two areas are relatively close to one another.
John Colby- 17, Tampa, FL
I was in Africa last summer (see picture) and I heard about the invisible children in Uganda. Thank you for being a voice for them....I join you in raising mine!
Bekka Joy
I was actually in Africa this summer as well, and I'm probably returning in February, this time to go to Uganda. This was beautiful, and a very moving way to explain the desperation these children face.
~Reveolution and Restoration, in the Name of Christ our Lord
Lizz
Wow, you are brave to go to Africa. Its not exactly the safest place in the world, especially with war.
i think that was really good i actually would like to go to africa i wanna go as a travling nurse when i get my RN'S in three to four years
Good luck with that! I am glad that you want to use your abilities and talents to change the world into a better place.
Excellent poem. War is horrible and most horrific to children. Everyone loves their children. Everyone wants peace. No one wants war, or the suffering, plagues, poverty, and destruction it brings. Yet, throughout all of human history there have been wars. there have been almost too many to even remember. Each war has left the earth and its people in worse shape than before the war started.
People say war is necessary to have peace. Does this stike you as oxymoronic, too?
People say it's necessary to kill the enemy before he kills us. Doesn't the "enemy" have the same fear as justification.
People say they must fight for Almighty God. Since when would an almighty God require the feeble protection of man?
Cynics might add that war is profitable. Government spending creates jobs. the control of stragetic ports or resources contribute to the wealth of nations. Do you know anyone who would sell their son for profit, or their neighbor's son? Or a stranger's son? Oh, I hope I don't.
This poem reminds me of something the famous poet, Paublo Neruda, wrote about the Spanish Civil War. It's called "I'm Explaining a Few Things". Here is an excerpt as translated into English by Nathaniel Tarn:
"....and from every dead child a rifle with eyes,
and from every crime bullets are born
which will one day
find the bull's eye of your hearts
And you'll ask why doesn't his poetry speak of dreams,
leaves and the great volcanoes of his native land
Come and see the blood
In the streets
Come and see
the blood in the streets
Come and see the blood
In the streets"
Neruda is my favorite poet. But I liked the poem, "Invisible Children", every bit as much as Neruda's "I'm Explaining a Few Things."
JAZZMAN
i will now look up more of Neruda's poetry. I had never heard of him before but am glad to learn of him today.
My roommate and I recently went to an Invisible Children meeting.We saw movies and cried our eyes out.We plan to join the group.If I can help just one child,my life will become alittle more complete.They need all of our support.
But how can you help those kids by just joining this group? Crying and bawling is nice, but in the end its not going to help them.
socialvibe.com help donate money..
www.socialvibe.com :)
very good blog! i went to a invisible children concert about a month ago...i bought a braclet and wear it all time...i get so many questions about it too. my goal is to go over there and help out....my church might be going there for a mission trip over the summer
i also want to join invisble children.... i have looking on their site and the net for any information i can get about the war and the condtions in africa.... i plan to go there before school starts....i think if you are passionate about something and are willing to work your ass off for it then in the end you can do just about anything ...never take no for an answer....the things that seem difficult are never as hard as you think they are and you only lose if you let it break your spirits.... as for helping with any cause the first and one of the most important thing to do is spread the word, people are often uninformed they dont understand or are unaware of all the things happening in the world or maybe their afraid you pretty much have to be the person to enlighten them then hold their hand to reasure them. second get as much information as you can about it third join or create a group and fourth fight for the cause by rasing money and awareness....
so if you want to help you can create an account with socialvibe at socialvibe.com its free you dont have to pay a cent...just post a badge to your myspace,facebook,bebo etc.... when people see your profile money will be donated by a sponsor who you choose....its a really easy way to help and doesnt take money out of your pocket. there are also tons of other organizations besides Invisible children...all different catagories too!
www.socialvibe.com :)