Read About Janie and How A Kid Your Age Really Made a Difference!
Sat little Jane-Janie John-Johnson
O’Hare.
She came everyday, she’d sit and
she’d wait
For an end to this terrible, horrible
HATE!
For you see Here and There, sometimes
called Far and Near,
Could not get along. This fact
was quite clear.
For they quarreled and they
grumbled, they sneered when at best,
They hated each other! Things were truly a mess.
This confused little Janie. It
troubled her heart.
How could it’ve happened? Why
did it start?
In school little Janie was taught
to be kind,
Respect other’s feelings…respect
difference of minds.
But if this was truly the way one
should act…
How come the grown-ups just couldn’t
relax?
Maybe for answers they’re looking too
deep.
Maybe the answer's right under their feet.
The solution must take them back
to the start.
No more words of the head instead of
the heart.
Jane had to do something.
She know that they wouldn’t.
These busy adults who said that they
couldn’t.
Suddenly it hit her!
Of course, that’s the way…
To try and bring peace to the world
today!
Jane would use tactics learned from her
mother…
Used when little Janie would fight with
her brother.
Mom made them put to paper and pen
Things in each other that were similar
in them.
Mother was crafty, she know in
her heart,
The reasons they fought, what it all
starts!
Mom lined ‘up up – Jane facing
brother…
Neither one giving in first to the
other.
Mom’d hold up ice cream ‘til they
finished their lists.
Mom was asking so much!
Was this too big a glitch?
First they would eye it…then one
another.
Janie would not give in first to her
brother!
He’d look at her and she’d look at
him
‘Til both of them smiled – big,
huge, wide grins.
Then pride was forgotten like
yesterday’s news.
What was the point?
What good did it do?
That was the answer…so plain and so
clear.
That we the answer…to aid Far and
Near!
Little Jane-Janie, she needed an aid,
So she called her friend Jimmy to help
her crusade!
They wrote to the leaders and asked if
they might
Visit the capitol to make it all right.
The president was busy and so was the
king.
You guessed it…with this arguing
thing!
That day in the paper in big, black,
bold letters
Was the answer she needed.
This would work out much better!
The leaders were coming, so Janie
explained,
Real soon and near-by…the rest was
quite plain.
Janie had to go to them.
She needed a way.
She screamed when she read:
They were coming today!
In the center of town they set up a
stage
And poor Janie watched as they ranted
and raved.
While Janie was there…Jimmy worked
too
Together they hoped the hate to undo.
Jimmy went to a parlor and spoke
to a man
He needed some ice cream to save this
great land.
Their cause was quite noble, Bill had
to admit…
Bill’d drive Jim himself…he just
could sit…
And watch these mere kids try saving
the world.
This brave little boy and that brave
little girl.
Tired they grew – these crabby old
men!
They returned to their quarters so
Janie snuck in.
A lady inside, a woman named Mike,
Was eager to help Janie make it all
right.
Mike hid little Jane under a cart…
Ker-thump…ker-ker-THUMP!
Went the beat of her heart.
Under the cart Janie waited a while…
For just the right moment to cross the
last mile.
She took a deep breath and lifted her
chin…
Pulled off the cloth – It was time to
begin!
She cleared her throat, her voice was
quite strong…
When starting her story about what was
way wrong.
The President stopped her and scolded
and screamed
But stopped when he saw the pile of ice
cream.
Janie took out her paper and asked if
they’d put to pen
What was similar between all of use and
all them.
“Sorry to bother you.
Really I am.
But not one single grown-up will speak
out…take a stand!”
The leader of Here and the man from way
There
Told Janie to quiet.
It just wasn’t fair!
If it wasn’t enough that she
couldn’t speak…
She began to believe that they
couldn’t be reached.
On tiny tear from from her tiny cheek.
Then the king from out there told the
room she could speak.
“Sorry to bother you.
Really I am.
But not one single grown-up will speak
out…take a stand”
Look, it’s all quite simple…really
it is…
You have to try harder.
Can you try for us kids?
See, I know that it’s hard to be the
first to give in…
To show a soft side – be the first to
begin.
But somebody has to… really they do!
The world’s not just ice cream. So much harm you can do!”
“Everyday after school I sit up
behind
The edge of both words and go out of my
mind
Trying to figure just what to do
When we’re all alike…all of us and
all you.
In school you teach kids, us here and
them there,
To be kind to others, to always play
fair.
I sit on my mountain and watch closely
both worlds,
Watch mommies from both sides love
little girls…and little boys
Tell them it’s not right…
Share all your things.
No one every wins fights.
You tell us these things over again
But you just won’t listen.
You’re words won’t sink in.
Why are you fighting?
What’s all the fuss?
When we’re all the same…in that you
can trust.
Won’t you please sit down and do more
than talk?
Really try changing? It would mean a
whole lot.
See…
We kids, we don’t care,
Who has more money or power or fame,
Or even whose winning this silly gun game.
We just want you grown-ups to act as
you say
Will make us good children…Please
start today.”
The President sighed and so did the
king
They looked at the child without saying
a thing.
Janie just smiled…
And held out her hand…
“Won’t you please try…
For the children of man?”