"FRIENDSHIP OF THE PEN"

By: Sandra Lee Smith, California

“This world of ours is in distress!”
Shout the authorities;
“People just don’t comprehend
These VAST perplexities!
e.g. the language barriers, lack of communication—
The world’s in chaos
Due to all The differences in nations!”

Therefore, they’ve prescribed arbiters
To cleverly expound for us —
The U.N. echoes noisily In cacophonic chorus;
Try as they might, these delegates
They fail to realize—
Understanding can be found —
It’s right before their eyes!

The way towards understanding
Doesn’t need shrewd delegations,
Nor referees, or deputies
To join together nations!

Not governments, nor documents,
Ah, no! It’s none of these!
The path towards peace
Requires but this -
’Tis hands across the seas.

Hands reach out in brotherhood,
Who write, and learn, and send.
The greatest gift that man can know -
The Friendship of the Pen.

These hands will not know barriers,
Of continent or seas.
These hands have found
The Implement to circumvent all these.

You need not be a Hemingway
To send communications,
Your compositions need not be
Effulgent narrations.

There’s just a single requisite
To which you must adhere,
Always be yourself, my friend,
And Always be sincere.

So, with these words
Let’s hope and pray
That war and strife may end,
That someday all
Mankind may know
The Friendship of the Pen.