XUNICEF News and Views

EMILY CULLEN AND SON, LEE In all my years of being a closet poet, my wife has only once thought that what I’d written was worthy of the word ‘poet’. All the rest were classified as ‘not worthy’. Somewhat ego-denting even when I thought I’d written quite a clever limerick:

The sun rises for all, at a glance, seemingly for ever, every day, no? for most, the sun even rises on tears and on smiles, again and again, no? when for many, the sun shall never rise again, We all saw it coming, and dared not believe,… cuz for some the thrill is to kill, with blasphemous will, with barberous whims, with bunker-blustering profanities, on tv, for each of us to see, instilling hatred where there exists love, inflicting injury where there belongs togetherness, A contagious disease then…? Yes, intentionally destroying integrity where values were built, socio-paths - on some continents more than on others - fabricating absurd misogyny and racist homophobia, - as if in competition! Or with some obnoxious orchestration? [ just imagine if this were true! ] Dismantling the Essence of Man, Deliberately. Extremes so extreme, humans shall not ever comprehend, obliterating elemental discernment, inventing new violence, fabricating treason where there is no Reason. An ugly, viciou...

A soon to be published collection of verse born from the embers of war and the whispers of peace;  rooted in the ache of longing, the grace of family, the fire of passion, the solitude of the soul, the fracture and the healing of the human heart, the silent witness of observation, and the eternal shelter of a mother's love.

“With this bright voice

Editor's Note:   The UNICEF USA gala is scheduled for December 2, 2025.  Amanda Gorman will read her new poem"With This Bright Voice" at the gala and we will post it, as soon as it becomes available. In this short interview Amanda Gorman spoke about her new role as an ambassador for UNICEF , describing what the organization means to her:

Editor's Note :  Baquer has kicked off a competition for XUNICEF members - verses produced by A.I. on "Justice and Peace for Every Child" . Karin Sham Poo has given us the next entry. Would you - with or without your A.I. friend like to add to the collection? If so, please send us your own submission of text on the theme - whether in simple verse, poetry, or music. Use the comments space below or send it to us at xunicef.news.views@gmail.com Greetings. I want a sing song on justice and peace for children can you help. Baquer

Taken in one of my assignments while traveling in a convoy toward a remote area —a road not marked on maps, but remembered by those who stayed. Poem shared by Niloufar Pourzand ...... We didn’t cry when it happened.

Canadian Votes Canadians showed it once again And proved they are sane, Democracy was not in vain, It was evidently plain.

Poem shared by Sree Gururaja By an unknown poet and forwarded repeatedly in social media. Sharing in reverence to Pope Francis.  Sree

It is March 8th again  Another International Women’s Day What does that really mean? Will I, my sisters and daughters Be guaranteed a better life? Nothing much happened since last year For they  say it’s really  up to   us, my dears To chin up and address our fears.

Dear Colleagues and Friends, I have just returned from another visit to Lesotho, where malnutrition rates remain very high indeed. Child stunting and anaemia among children and women remain major challenges, as do poor diets and poor health more generally. Through my organization, I've been honored to be asked to help the Government in its ongoing planning to address malnutrition through multi-year, multi-sectoral approaches (health, agriculture, social protection, etc) and resource mobilization efforts. If you would be interested to work with me on this challenge going forward, or know other colleagues who might be able to lend relevant expertise, please let me know (directly, I suggest). Thanks so much and best wishes to all. Richard richgmorgan@hotmail.com

  A year ago on December 6, 2023, the famous teacher of literature and poet, Refaat Alareer was killed in Gaza in an Israeli airstrike. His final poem is read here:

  Poem shared by Tarique Farooqi and comments by Fouad Kronfol Saeed A. Malik While the world is remembering the anniversary of the tsunami which killed thousands in a number of countries, this poem on Gaza is worth posting as it reminds us of many thousands of innocent children and women killed also. While the tsunami was a natural disaster, Gaza is a man-made catastrophe which continues unabated for all to see in real time and on all kinds of public screens. Fouad

ODE TO THE CHILDREN Yesterday was Human Rights Day, I was told, Today our beloved UNICEF is 78 years old. For both occasions one needs to be bold To decry the death and suffering of children around the world And many more left alone in December's cold.

You will not see it advertised It has long escaped from fashion But the visa application’s free For the Nation of Compassion

The Maple Leaf family at the end of Fall, Have put on their golden coverall, But they fell off the trees like all The billions of "comrades" they call.

Mr. Iguana taking sun by a Florida pool, You cant see him as he releases a drool, But he likes it and says it is cool. Dont take him for a reptilian fool, Even though he looks like a real ghoul, He doesnt do it as a rule. Sunning around a children's school, Or even sitting on a wooden stool. Those sharp quilts are not made of wool, But can be used as a defensive tool. Despite the look he is certainly not cruel, And has a liking for honey and gruel, Eating them without a spool. Photography by Myra Rudin, Rhymes by Frederico Garofalo

  For the International Day of Peace, Wesam, 18, calls for "..an end to all wars." Wesam lost his hand, leg and one of his eyes when he stepped on a landmine in Yemen. وسام، 18 عاماً، فقد يده وساقه وإحدى عينيه عندما وطأ لغماً أرضياً في اليمن Click here for more in the UNICEF series "Poems for Peace"

Isn’t it really queer, That year after year, This small tree will appear, All alone like the head of a spear, With its reddish leaves it has no peer, To announce that summer will disappear And Father winter is very near. Fouad