Gandhi’s Children
From the poetry book Territorio Nuevo (2005)
By Irene Lipshin
“If we are to reach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with the children.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
Opening the morning news, I stare
into the face of a mother, cradling a child,
blank saucers gazing at her house of rubble.
Who should she trust in this quest
of men against men and war of gods?
Words on the page written in blood
scrawls revive our terror colored by alerts,
and warnings of anything that moves.
Yet, when we discover
the fox in our yard, intruder of our space,
we do not banish her, do not shoot to kill,
do not fight over boundary lines, last breath
going down. She is merely passing through,
touching the soil with wings we know, wings
that will fly us to the same heaven-foxes,
Iraques, Americans all in the same grave,
mothers leaning over to cover the children
with the same good-bye.
Irene Lipshin is a poet, photographer, and lifelong peace and social justice activist. Throughout her career, she has taught in Early Childhood Education and English as a Second Language, always advocating for children, human rights, environmental stewardship, and nonviolent social change. Through her writing, photography, and community engagement, Lipshin has inspired others to promote peace, equity, and compassion.
