What if people never died?

What if they died for four days and then came back to life?

What if people never got sick or fat?

They would be healthy all the time

And no matter how much they ate

They’d still be skinny

What if predators weren’t invented?

But all animals are predators

What if people never kill people?

What if guns weren’t invented?

What if schools weren’t invented?

People would just grow up and wouldn’t even know they’re not learning

What if there’s no such thing as foster homes or orphan cages?

Parents would learn to love and take care of their kids

Even if they didn’t want them.

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This poem is published in The World in Me, a compilation of original poetry written by young people ages 8 – 17 who stayed with their families in housing at Solid Ground’s Broadview Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing for women and children. The young authors who contributed to The World in Me are not identified by their real names, and some details have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of them and their families. The authors retain copyrights on their individual works.