My Daughter (Climate march poem)

I must be young

to be so naive

to think that I can make a difference 

with these words that I speak

I stay up late writing verses

that yearn to be heard

spinning sounds out of silence

weaving peace with my words

knowing the only way I can speak peace

is to be it, breathe it

breathe in - breathe out

remember the zen teacher who taught you

that in every snap of the fingers

there are 65 individual moments

and in every moment

you have a choice

And I choose you

I choose truth

I choose bright blue skies

And baking fresh apple tarts with my daughter 

who's yet to be born

yet two years ago I planted an apple tree

So one day we will have fruit

I want to grow her a garden

I want to build her a house

I want to plant so many trees

that she never has to worry

about the forests disappearing

her hands are small and pink

we watch the sunrise together

I wish I could promise

she will never have to worry about anything

but she will inherit a world that needs healing

with a best before date

that expired before she was even born

and the best I can do

is teach her not to be afraid of the truth

The truth is

I want to promise her the world

I want to stop glaciers from melting

and ocean levels from rising

I want to protect her from floods and droughts

I want to promise everything will be OK

But I can't do it alone

They say it takes an entire village to raise a child

It will take every village, city and country coming together

to raise this daughter to be safe and strong

to create the world that we want to live on

But I can promise her we wont stop trying

I will be there by her side

holding her hand whenever she cries

Singing her songs of courage and hope

and hoping this story has a happy ending

but I don't know that yet

Its up to you and me