The Missing Millennium Development Goal

My unruly imagination wants to include a Millennium Development Goal that isn't on the list. That is, let's have a goal that all the stupid despots, countries, united fronts and whatever else they call themselves, who use warfare and other military action to achieve their goals, would just stop it. You can do it right now, guys, I won't be upset if you act quickly on this one.

Here is a poem I wrote a few years ago about how it makes me feel inside, cold and withered, like a dead leaf, whenever I think of how many children are killed every year in wars.

Do you have a poem you can send me, too? Just email me at jabez.vancleef@verizon.net Or, you can post your poem as a comment at the bottom of this page.

21. As It Should Be


The cut leaf maple
in the front
held its leaves
for the longest time
but last night
that hard frost
made all the grass
white
and now
as the bright sun
comes on strong
it melts the frost
on the higher leaves
and the weight of the water
breaks them loose
so they fall
one by one
and cover
the frozen grass
with red.