I wrote a poem/ children’s short story about the refugee crisis. I have tried to write it from a child’s perspective to show how children understand the world. I hope this gives some guidance to the less tolerant adults among us. I hope it lets them forget about their political views for a moment and understand that these people are humans and are all equally important… 

“Mama look at these strangers mama look in the sea!
Mama who are these strangers that are on the tv?”

“Don’t worry about them son, don’t you make a fuss!
They are strangers my dear son, they are nothing like us.”

“But of course they are mama, they are just like you and me,
They have hands, they have eyes, they have faces, you see.”

“But they don’t look like us son, just look at their faces
They look different to us and they’re from different places!”

“But of course they are mama, they are just like you and me,
They have hearts and have feelings and they’re hurting you see.”

“But they’re different to us son, because they’re not as lucky,
We are better than them son, it should say on the telly.”

“In some ways they are different but we are also the same, they have families and feelings and hobbies and names.”

“We should help them mama, because they are in pain, and if we were them we would expect the same.”

And the mama held her son and realised she was wrong, and she wept as she cried: “You were right all along!”

“Of course they are son, they are just like you and me,
They have hearts and have feelings and they’re hurting you see.

In some ways they are different but also the same, they have families and feelings and hobbies and names.

We should help them dear son because they are in pain, and if we were them we would expect the same.

Thank you dear son, you were right all along, thank you dear son, you were right, I was wrong!”

“You have taught me,” she said as the tears began to pour,
“That all life is the same son, no life is worth more!'”

Sarah Abberton, Bingley Rural member 4th June 2016