In harmony
If a child lives with approval, [s]he learns to live with [her]himself. — Dorothy Law Nolte
I am looking at a poster-size collection of drawings and writing that were sent to me by my young friend Amelia Summers. She is now three years old and is becoming a very good artist and writer. She lives in Leicestershire, England. Amelia is in my thoughts very often. She is a wonderful little girl. Rachel, her mother, tells me that Amelia wants me to have plenty of "... soap, pens, chocolate and paper". Well, three out of four is not bad.
Then there is Gethin Bryn Roberts, who will be four years old soon. He lives in Wales. His mother Sharon and I have adopted each other as siblings; so our mutual adoption makes Gethin my nephew. He is very precocious and talented. It will not be long before he and I will write poetry in collaboration. We will be using the playful (yet serious) French poetic form from the past known as the triolet.
I like the idea of a young Welsh boy in the United Kingdom and a middle aged African-American man in a US prison pursuing medieval art forms together. Who knows, we may well be able to open a few contemporary windows through which we might all find a clearer view and hope for the future.
The past has shown us that the world's children have been, and are, far more intelligent than we have been willing to given them credit for. Most children — no matter the circumstances of their culture, ethnic background or place of birth — are very much like Amelia and Gethin.
Unfortunately, equally bright children whose living conditions deny them the appropriate praise and adult approval (what I mean is the inspirational kind of praise and approval that Amelia and Gethin get every day) too often are forced to live a truly disastrous life. Indeed the fact that I am writing the column from a death row prison cell in the USA (in many ways) speaks to just how disastrous the lack of praise, approval and other things can be in a child's life.
It occurs to me that many readers may know some children who are not getting that praise and approval. Perhaps this space could be used for that purpose. Maybe we could encourage them to write their years in a poem; four year olds should write a four line poem and so on. We will keep the age group between three and six. They should write about anything they choose. If it turns out that there are so many inclusions that there is not enough room to publish them all, I could also include an "honourable mention list" with their names and the title of their poem. That way none of their precious works would be deprived of praise, recognition and approval.
Send their poetic efforts to me and — along with their original — I request that you print their poems out so that I will not make any mistakes when I present them to the editor. The needed praise, recognition and approval that they will get in this column may well inspire them to do even more. You will be encouraging them to learn to live not merely with themselves, but in harmony with each other as well.
[The author can be written to at: Brandon Astor Jones, EF-122216, G2-51, GD&CC, PO Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233, USA.
[Brandon's childhood autobiography is available in booklet form for $16, including postage. Every cent raised will go towards defending his life. Please make cheques payable to the Brandon Astor Jones Defence Account and post to 10 Palara Place, Dee Why NSW 2099. Donations to the Brandon Astor Jones Defence Account may be made at any Commonwealth Bank, account No. 2127 1003 7638.]