Photo by Crispin Hughes/Oxfam

The Awakening Age

O ye who travel the meridian line,
May the vision of a new world within you shine.

May eyes that have lived with poverty's rage,
See through to the glory of the awakening age.

For we are all richly linked in hope,
Woven in history, like a mountain rope.

Together we can ascend to a new height,
Guided by our heart's clearest light.

When perceptions are changed there's much to gain,
A flowering of truth instead of pain.

There's more to a people than their poverty;
There's their work, wisdom, and creativity.

Along the line may our lives rhyme,
To make a loving harvest of space and time.

© Ben Okri, 1999

On the Line

Countries on the Meridian Line
Joined together because of time
But the earth is divided into rich and poor,
We don’t want that any more.
Years ago, the whites used to smack
And always used to hurt the blacks
Causing so much unnecessary pain
The world still has so much to gain.
Why do we treat the poor so bad?
Wouldn’t you feel really sad?
We would feel really good
Wouldn’t you if you could
Help the poor with less than us
Let them learn in us to trust.
Poor and rich, you say you don’t care,
You shouldn’t do that ’cause it’s not fair.
The world could be peaceful by admission
Put yourself in their position.
The year two thousand we will celebrate
The millennium could create
A world of kindness and of peace
If we make the pain and suffering decrease.
We will try, we just might
Guide them into a new light.
We are ready to fight the fear
Open your ears so you can hear
Open your eyes so you can see
The changes start with you and me.

Year Four, Hughes Field Primary School, Deptford

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