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Save the Children

Richard K. Williams

Watching the funeral
of Queen Elizabeth
on television this morning.
Amid all the pomp
and pageantry

I was wondering where
was the mandatory
screaming child?

There is always one
At every funeral, restaurant,
wedding, movie, and airline flight.

I’m certain there was a rule
that no young children
were allowed to attend.
Because wealth and power
Have privilege.


The cameras could have
filmed the faces
of the agonized patents
in their futile attempt
to calm and quiet
the thrashing wailing
infant or toddler.

Perhaps these crying children
do so because they see
the adults around them
and realize this is what
awaits them. Their infant
consciousness sees their
future on display before them

But I’m sure
the children
were more relieved
they were not forced
to attend and have
to stifle their natural
tendency to live life
on their own terms.

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