English

A child's plea to the grownups

My Only Cry: Close the Arms Factories

Who are you deceiving?

You ask me to speak to children,

but I shall also address you, the grown -ups.

I am still a child, I don’t know how to lie like you.

All the children of the world, oh adults of the world,

Could not rebuild what you destroy.

A better world won’t be able to be rebuilt

without you, the adults.

You know that our cries are useless,

in a deaf world.

Now, my friends, let’s not talk of friendship,

Peace and fellowship,

these words should be spoken by adults.

Enough promises.

Enough waiting.

Come everyone, ask them to stop making arms,

to stop making wars break out,

to stop telling lies.

Listen, listen carefully: we are sick,

you are sick;

but we are here.

So, in your name, we children,

we ask them:

“Close your arms factories

and think about taming the winds.”

Right-wing politics matter little to us,

we are children.

Left-wing politics matter little to us.

Our life is essentially affection

But, through your fault,

a veil of dust lies over it.

– Leila Ibrahim Semaan