Choices a poem by Barry Norris, award winning poet and brother of Frank

03/10/23

the space in which a child can grow the hole through which a child must go

the height to which a mind can reach the syllabus to learn and teach

the courage of a difficult truth the accelerated flight from youth

the beauty of discordant song the rigidities of right and wrong

the joy of seeing a burst of paint the pointed look of curt complaint

the poppy in a field of wheat the painful back of a plastic seat

the wonder, awe, beauty, the best the feeling safe among the rest

the love of learning for its own sake the feeding of an economic state

each choice will make a different mind the child is father of our future time

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