Let them learn

Let the children learn
be more than a friend
and coming from you
that little bit older
when they lean on that shoulder
tell them of things
like birds on the wing
of the beautiful rose
and the thorn that grows
of the bee and the sting
and of summers of heat
or cold winter sleet
and practice and preach
teach what to do
and should their world crumble
you be that shoulder
don't promise the moon
or the stars too
when they hear life from you
but tell them the truth
life takes more than living
for giving is a must
be kind to those
with less than the rest
tell them of clouds
and how sometimes it rains
the sun in the sky
the stars up above
but most of all
tell them of LOVE

JAMES REID