Under an Oak
I rest under an oak tree and think about what’s happening in the world right now.

In one part of the world an African tribe is starving
and someplace else a rich lazy man is stuffing himself with food.

Somewhere in a forest an old man who’s lonely dies of heart failure
while somewhere else a child is brought into a new world.

A baby bird soars into the sky for the first time
and an old bald eagle floats to the ground lifeless.

Somewhere a war breaks out
while somewhere else a peace treaty has been signed.

In a church in the east a choir is singing of joy for a miracle.
In the west a loved one has died and the church is filled with a song of mourning.

In one part of the world there is a terrible storm,
in another part a magnificent rainbow appears in the sky.

A drop of rain falls on my face and I wake up from my dream of what’s happening in the world.

Sarai, age 10