fireworks

2 december 2017, Amsterdam

(a child’s poem)

sun doesn’t want to shed smoky tears

sky doesn’t want to be suffocated

trees don’t want to cough

streets don’t want to lose their sight

they all want to breathe and be left in peace

so, without asking

p l e a s e!

don’t play with fireworks!

dogs, cats, hamsters, birds and babies

can’t complain

nevertheless they don’t want to

be shaken and terrified

peace and tranquillity are their innate right

money does not want to be wasted

hands want to wave, work and write

a love letter, for instance

eyes want to indulge in

seeing the cherry blossoms

windows want to smile openly

instead, enjoy the shining eyes of a cat,

embrace the bright beautiful burning flame

within yourself

enjoy your voice

instead of deafening and blinding

explosions and noise

there are many ways to

celebrate the moment joyfully:

buy chocolates for your mom

or a small cottage for homeless birds

or a plant for a lady

or adopt a tiny tree or a leopard cub

or at least buy a book for yourself

so, without saying:

p l e a s e!

i’m asking you

not to play with fireworks!