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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Childhood (09/03/09)
If children were to rule the world,
How different things would be.
The meanies would be put in jail
While cats and dogs run free.

There’d be no shoes to cramp your toes,
No frilly dress-up clothes,
Just shirts with sleeve lengths long enough
For you to wipe your nose.

Of silly songs there’d be no end,
With lots and lots of noise,
There’d be no minute to sit still,
Just nonstop play with toys.

For naps, there’d be a banishment,
For early bedtimes, too.
A “no” could not be spoken to
Deny what you could do.

There’d be no scoldings any time,
Of blaming you, no part.
And honesty would win the day
If you’d just cross your heart.

No shots at doctors’ offices,
No painful dentist drill,
No yucky medicines could cure
Like Mama’s kisses will.

No one would ever caution you
What manners you should use,
To wash your hands or brush your teeth
Or mind your “p’s and q’s.”

Time-outs and other punishments
Would be against the law,
And so would vegetables for lunch,
Those cooked and those served raw.

The menu for the dinner meal
Each day would be the same,
With chocolate cake and ice cream as
The cook’s best claim to fame,

With pantries filled with peppermint
And lollipops galore
And every kind of candy bar
And cookies by the score.

With birthday parties every day
And Christmas without stop,
The presents would stack up so high,
You couldn’t reach the top.

The world would also change in love
If children were in charge.
With Jesus as their friend, they’d spread
Sweet charity at large.
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This article has been read 1802 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Dianne Janak
09/10/09
YES! So well put. This made me smile, as I have grandkids and it does bring back the sweet innocent joy of childhood! You did a good job here and I enjoyed it!
Charla Diehl
09/11/09
This cute poem rings so true of a child's point of view. A fun read that ends perfectly.
Loren T. Lowery
09/11/09
Yes, yes and yes again. A Shirley Temple moment in time - is it any wonder why audiences young and old adore her - this simple poem explains it all - all so well.
Chely Roach
09/13/09
So funny, with a thought provoking ending. My favorite stanza:
No one would ever caution you
What manners you should use,
To wash your hands or brush your teeth
Or mind your “p’s and q’s.”
Priceless. :)
Joni Andrews 
09/13/09
A pure delight!! I LOVED it. What a joy it must be to write something like this--so creative and fun and yet poignant, too.
Jan Ackerson
09/14/09
I love the way your title compliments your poem, with the same meter and mood. Wonderful!
Gregory Kane
09/14/09
A celebration of the joy of childhood. I found the last verse a little jarring coming as it did at the end of a litany of what could be regarded as selfishness and indulgence. I guess that's why children DO need adults to teach them a bit about restraint!
Virgil Youngblood 
09/14/09
What a great poem. For some reason the words "Sweet charity" didn't seem to fit but I can't suggest anything better. Otherwise, I think it was written to topic exceptionally well.
Bryan Ridenour
09/14/09
I loved this, especially the part about honesty and crossing your heart. Very well done!
Joy Faire Stewart
09/14/09
Love the first stanza..."while cats and dogs run free."

The second stanza..."For you to wipe your nose."

I'll have to stop with favorites 'cause I loved it all!
Betty Castleberry
09/15/09
I am smiling at this delightful poem. It is such a pleasure to read. Excellent job!
Janice Fitzpatrick
09/15/09
This is cute! I liked the flow and meter and the theme is great! Sometimes I think that kids could do a better job in some ways. (Although I can picture tons of kids running everywhere with cavities and unwashed little bodies.):0)Very nicely done!
Laury Hubrich 
09/16/09
Awesome poem. The world would be so very different if our children were in charge, for sure.
Mariane Holbrook
09/16/09
This is just too cute for words. I love the line about your sleeves being only long enough to wipe your nose. Isn't that just like a kid to say that? The whole poem is just adorable and I can see a million different ways to illustrate it for your book. You'd have a hard time picking out just one line to illustrate because your choices are so many. Honestly, you get better every single week and I'm so proud to call you my dear, dear friend. I've learned so much just from studying your work. Love you, Dearheart.
Dee Yoder
09/16/09
This poem perfectly describes a child's wish for how life should be! I love it!
Beth LaBuff 
09/17/09
Wonderful, Verna! As I'm reading, I keep thinking, this should be a sung. I love all the intricacies of this!
Lisa Johnson
09/17/09
I enjoyed this lighthearted romp through childhood. I especially liked the shirt-sleeve line. I could just see the children throughout history who have wiped their noses on sleeves. (Much to their mothers' chagrin.) congratulations on your Highly Commended and EC placing this week.
Beth LaBuff 
09/17/09
Congrats, Verna! This well-written poem is so deserving on an EC!
Sharlyn Guthrie
09/17/09
Congratulations on your EC, Verna! This poem is adorable, and well written, too!
Catrina Bradley
09/18/09
I think I'd like to live there. :) Very fun - congrats, Verna!