Oh -- I See - Both Audio and Text
While sitting in the park one day, my beagle lying near, a little girl came strolling up - I’d say ‘bout four years old -
And asked me ‘bout a big ol’ tank. She queried, “What is that?” Then calmly stood there, staring at me…waiting to be told.
“That’s a tank,” I offered. Then was taken by surprise when suddenly she added, “Oh, I see. So…what’s it do?”
“Soldiers use them. Army guys. They use them overseas, to make the world a safer place for little girls like you.”
“Oh, I see,” she echoed what she’d answered once before. “What’s that thing beside it, with the two big wheels and pipe?”
“That’s a cannon, sweetie” I replied. “I like your shoes,” I tried to change the subject - but this kid was not the type.
“What’s the cannon do?” she quizzed me. Not prepared to say, I searched for words to tell the truth…I didn’t wanna lie.
“Just like tanks, they’re used for keeping peace around the world,” I dodged again, “by making lots of naughty people die!”
“Oh, I see,” the child repeated, “both make people dead.” “Yes,” I said reluctantly…not sure what to do,
“But only if they absolutely have to,” I explained. How was I to make her see in some way - mostly true -
What it is these cruel, remorseless weapons represent? How their only purpose is to kill our fellow man?
At a loss for honest words, I told her, “You know what…I would love to tell you, hon …but I don’t think I can.
“I am not an expert when it comes to tanks and cannons…never having fired either one… but even if I had…
I’m not sure a little girl like you would understand. This is actually something you should prob’ly ask your dad.”
“I don’t have a dad,” she whimpered…“angels came and got him.
Mommy says my daddy gave his life to keep us free.
I was only wond’ring if a thing like one of these…killed him.”
Struggling hard to hide my tears, I answered……“Oh…I see!”
Note: My poetry books (and ALL my fiction books), and audio CDs of verse are available at - www.writerofbooks.com. Several samples are also available on YouTube and on ebay under Mark Stellinga Poetry.
Cheers,
Mark
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