Change is Strange- Let's Try It!

Location

In a not-so-far village,
on a street near a creek,
stood two little boys
playing hide-and-go-seek.

On his way to a meeting,
a man saw them horsing around.
He strode right on over and said,
"Not one more sound!"

They obeyed in a flash,
for the rules clearly stated,
"Kids will listen to adults,
whom shall not be debated."

So the two children sat,
as the man started speaking.
They tried hard to listen well,
but grew sad at his critiquing.

"You will do as i say,
you will do as i do,
you will soon go to sleep,
you will now eat that stew.

"You will not wear those shoes,
you will not shave that head,
you will not pierce those ears,
you will not read in bed.

"You must learn from mistakes
that you never must make.
You must grin and charm guests
that act condescending and fake.

"You shall not surf the web,
you shall not play that game,
you shall not see that boy,
you most certainly will not change that name!

"What may you do?
What's that you ask?
You want some direction?
Let me set you a task:

"You will brush those teeth,
you will make that bed,
you will comb that hair ,
you will do as I've said
and said and said!"

Then a young voice piped up,
bold, loud, and clear.
It said, "Why not ask us?"
and met an uplifting, "Hear, hear!"

For the voice that had spoken
belonged to a special one,
as that one the man knew,
for that one was his son.

"Son," he cried out,
"Why do you speak now
when you know all the rules
and know this I can't allow?"

The boy walked to his father,
looked him up and down,
and said, "These rules need changing,
but we can still save this town."

As the gathered group cheered,
the man seemed confused,
"Save it from who?
Of whom have you accused?"

The boy shook his head,
slowly, but firmly, he declared,
"I refuse to point fingers,
but know that I'm scared.

"I'm scared of our town,
and its strict discipline.
I worry for the children;
creativity should not be a sin.

So who wants freedom?
Who will help me?
Who will make a stand?
Who wants liberty?"

And the children cheered,
the teens hurrahed,
the whole crowd clapped,
and the man was awed.

He faced the boys
he had earlier scolded,
and shook their hands,
and then he exulted,

"Do what you want,
do what you please.
As long as it's harmless,
the orders will cease.

We'll all inform Mayor,
right now, today,
that the repression ends here,
for all folks should have a say!"

And so the little town went,
and Mayor quickly agreed.
They became quite content,
and so was planted the democratic seed.

THE END

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