poetry slam: children

Always There Are The Children

and always there are the children

there will be children in the heat of day
there will be children in the cold of winter


children like a quilted blanket
are welcomed in our old age


children like a block of ice to a desert sheik
are signs of status in our youth


we feed the children with our culture
that they might understand our travail

we nourish the children on our gods
that they may understand respect

we urge the children on the tracks
that our race will not fall short

but our children are not ours
nor we theirs they are future we are past


how do we welcome the future
not with the colonialism of the past
for that is our problem
not with the racism of the past
for that is their problem
not with the fears of our own status
for history is lived not dictated

we welcome the young of all groups
as our own with the solid nourishment
of food and warmth

we prepare the way with the solid
nourishment of self-actualization

we implore all the young to prepare for the young
because always there will be children

Nikki Giovanni (b. 7 june 1943), poet, activist, author

february 2nd is known for many things: candlemas, groundhog day, (which is derived from of the pagan imbolc celebration of the goddess brigid), the celebration of yemanja- the sea goddess, world wetlands day, and the day many bloggers participate in a cyber poetry slam- thanks reya for reminding us of this poetic gathering - this is my third year participating. hope you enjoy nikki's poem and if you have any children in your life check out her book - she talk about it in the vid below

nikki giovanni on her children's book hip hop speaks to children


photo: ms. t and sam, july 2009