THEIR WINDOW PAIN

FROM MY WINDOW I CAN SEE,

ALL THE PAIN AND MISERY.

FROM MY WINDOW I CAN HEAR,

ALL THE TERROR AND THE FEAR.

FROM MY WINDOW I CAN TOUCH,

SMOKE AND ASHES, DEBRIS AND DUST.

FROM MY WINDOW I SEE WAR,

NO MORE HOUSES, NO MORE STORES.

NO MORE GRASS, NO MORE DOORS.

NO MORE FLOORS, AND THE BIRDS DON’T SOAR,

AND THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH,

THE GASSES FROM THE WAR.

PLEASE, NO MORE WAR!

PLEASE NO MORE WAR!!

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE TRAPPED AT THE SCHOOL,

OUR PARENTS ARE MILES AWAY FROM OUR SCHOOL,

MY CELL PHONE IS NOT WORKING, EVERYBODY’S SIGNAL IS LOST,

TELL ME WHY- DID WE HAVE TO PAY THE COST?

FROM MY WINDOW I CAN SEE,

BABY STROLLERS LEFT IN THE STREETS.

MOTHERS RUNNING WITH CHILD IN HAND,

BUT RUNNING TO WHERE?

NO PLAN, NO MAN.

NO FOOD, NO WATER, NO CLOTHES, NO CAR,

NO FREEDOM, WHERE’S JUSTICE? NO PEACE, JUST WAR?

THIS CAN’T BE RIGHT, WHILE THE OTHER COUNTRIES WATCH,

WE’RE RUNNING FOR OUR LIVES,

TRYING NOT TO GET CAUGHT.

WE THE INNOCENT, NEVER SIGNED UP FOR THIS,

WE NEVER HAD A SAY,

AND WE NEVER HAD A CHANCE,

IF THE BODIES STILL LAY.

THE GRAVES ARE AN EXAMPLE, TO WHO AND FOR WHAT?

WHY PUNISH THE PEOPLE?

WHY FORCE FIGHTING ON US?

WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?

THE CHILDREN THAT IS, WHY CAN’T WE HAVE PEACE?

DO YOU HATE KIDS?

WHY MUST WE FEAR, AND WHY MUST WE CRY?

WHY MUST WE RUN, AND WHY MUST WE HIDE?

WHY MUST WE FEEL SUCH PAIN INSIDE?

DID WE DISTURB THEM AND THEIR LIVES?

THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, AND TO HIM AND TO HER,

PLEASE TELL THEM TO STOP, THE BLOODY MASACRE.

WARN THE PEOLPLE IN YOUR COUNTRY OR STATE OR TOWN,

OR PARISH OR SLUM, IN THE AIR OR ON THE GROUND!

BULLETS HAVE NO NAMES, AND BOMBS FEEL THE SAME,

AND THOSE THAT MAKE WAR, NEED TO BE ASHAMED!

THIS ISN’T FAIR, AND IT’S NOT FUNNY,

AND IT’S ALL OVER LAZINESS, JEALOUSY AND MONEY.

ENVY AND GREED AND SLAVERY? NOT FUNNY!

I’M NOT AMUSED AND ALL DAY WE CRY,

AND ALL NIGHT WE PRAY THAT TOMMOROW WE DON’T DIE!

WE PRAY TO FLY, FLY AWAY TO FREEDOM,

BECAUSE BAD AND EVIL, WE JUST DON’T NEED EM!

FROM MY WINDOW I CAN TASTE,

THE AIR OF MONSTERS, CREEPS, AND RATTLESNAKES!

OUR RIVERS AND PONDS ANDS POOLS ARE GONE,

SO MUCH WAR IT LOOKS LIKE WE WERE HIT BY A STORM!

I CANNOT FORGIVE BECAUSE I CANNOT FORGET,

I HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND AND MY FAMILY DIDN’T DO IT!

TO ME OR TO US, COMMUNITIES AREN’T DOING THIS TO EACHOTHER;

WE’RE SEPERATED FROM OUR UNCLES, OUR FATHERS AND BROTHERS!

NOBODY’S SAFE, THE HOSPITALS ARE RELOCATING,

TRANSPORTATION IS GONE AND THE BIRDS ARE CIRCULATING!

PLEASE TELL US THE TRUTH, THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MADNESS,

PLEASE STOP THE PAIN, THE HURT, AND THE SADNESS.

WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG,

AND WAITING FOR WHAT?

WHO’S GOING TO SAVE US?

A PLANE OR A TRUCK?

A BOAT OR A BUS?

WHO’S GOING TO SAVE US?

I’M ONLY 12 YEARS OLD,

AND I CAN’T RUN TOO FAST,

BECAUSE MY LEG WAS AMPUTATED,

FROM BEING BY THE WAR BLAST.

WE HAVE MOVED SO MANY TIMES,

FROM LAND TO LAND,

I CARRY WITH ME, MY TEDDY BEAR IN MY HAND,

TEDDY BEARS ARE FRIENDLY, THEY LISTEN AND LEARN,

HOW TO BE A REAL FRIEND,

OUR TRUST THEY EARN.

WE PLAY GAMES AND SINGS SONGS,

WE TRY TO BE QUIET AND STRONG,

WE SHARE AND GET ALONG,

AND WE TRY TO BE CALM.

US KIDS AT THE HOSPITAL I MEAN,

WE TRY TO BE GOOD, AND WE TRY TO STAY CLEAN.

OUR NURSES ARE SCARED, AND TIRED AND CONFUSED,

THEY’RE TRYING TO STAY AWAKE, AND BE CALM,

AND WATCH THE NEWS.

THEY CAN’T CONCENTRATE ON ANYTHING BUT US,

AND THEY WORRY ABOUT THEIR OWN KIDS,

AND WHO CAN THEY TRUST?

THEY’RE WITH NURSES, AND NANNIES,

AND EVERYBODYS SCATTERED,

AND FROM MY WINDOW HEAR,

THE OTHER WINDOWS SHATTER.

FROM MY WINDOW I LOOK OUT,

AND I WISH AND DAY DREAM,

ABOUT WALKING AGAIN OR RUNNING BY THE STREAM.

AT LEAST I CAN SEE, BECAUSE THE BOMB DIDN’T BLAST OFF MY EYES-

BUT I CRY AND I CRY, SO WHO REALLY NEEDS EYES?

MY FRIEND LOST AN ARM, AND HIS LITTLE SISTER DIED,

AND THAT’S WHY ALL DAY LONG,

HE CRIES AND CRIES.

WE’RE BOTH IN WHEELCHAIRS AND WE ARE BOTH VERY SMALL,

WE NEVER HURT ANYBODY, SO WHY WERE WE CALLED?

CALLED TO THE NONSENSE, CALLED TO THE VIOLENCE,

CALLED TO THE WAR, BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO BE IN IT!

THE WARS ARE ON T.V, THE MOVIES AND THE NEWS,

BUT IT REALLY HAPPENED TO US,

AND WERE SCARED AND CONFUSED.

THE NURSE IS HERE NOW, AND I’M GOING BACK IN MY CHAIR,

SHE’S HELPING ME OUT WITH MY CLOTHES AND MY HAIR.

MY MEDICINE IS GROSS AND I CAN’T TASTE MY FOOD,

I DON’T LIKE MY BED ON THE FLOOR WITH THE SHOES.

STUPID SHOES! WHO CARES ABOUT SHOES ANYWAY?

I DON’T NEED EM,

BECAUSE THE WAR MONGERS TOOK MY LEG AWAY.

I’M AFRAID OF FIRE,

I’M AFRAID OF SMOKE,

I’M AFRAID OF MEN IN GREEN PANTS WITH GUNS AND GREEN COATS!

I’M AFRAID OF LOUD NOISES,

I’M AFRAID OF THE DARK,

ALL BECAUSE OF THE WAR,

I’M AFRAID TO BE SMART!

I’M AFRAID TO DREAM,

THE NIGHTMARES ARE SO SCARY,

I’M AFRAID TO SLEEP,

SO AFRAID OF THE SCARY.

I WISH IT WOULD STOP,

I WISH I WAS AT HOME,

WHERE IT’S WARM AND THERE’S LOVE,

NO BOMBS AND NO GUNS!

I GUESS NOBODY CARES,

ABOUT KIDS, THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT STUFF,

NOBODY CARES ABOUT US,

NOBODY’S COMING TO SAVE US.

I HEAR HELICOPTERS,

ARE THEY COMING FOR US?

ARE THEY COMING TO BOMB? OR ARE THEY COMING TO SAVE US?

ARE THEY COMING WITH SUPPLIES, OR COMING TO BOMB?

OH NO, OH NO, I HAD IT ALL WRONG!!!

THE HEROES ARE HERE!!!! AND IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON!!!!

THE NURSE SAID IT’S THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE,

WE’RE GOING TO FREEDOM IN A NEW LAND, WITH CARE AND FOOD!!

WHERE'S MY TEDDY BEAR?

I CAN’T LEAVE HIM HERE,

WE’RE NEVER COMING BACK TO THIS PAIN AND THIS FEAR.

MY FAMILY IS SAFE, AND THE REST OF MY FRIENDS,

AND THEY’RE COMING TOO,

SO WE CAN BE FRIENS TIL THE END!

AND I HOPE SOMEDAY, THAT I WILL WALK AGAIN....

FROM MY WINDOW I TRY TO SEE,

A PLANET WITH LOVE, HAPPY CHILDREN, AND PEACE.

Book of the Year