When the Horses Ride by: Children in the Times of War

WE ARE THE HELPERS

We tend the farm,
help to make the food grow,
Somewhere there is fighting,
but we are here, helping the sun
and the rain and the rich earth
bring forth the plants of life.

Wars have occurred throughout history, in all parts of the world, and they continue today. In spite of the hardship and suffering of wartime, children often find ways to see beauty and hope—in the natural world, in the love of family and friends, and in the ordinary activities of childhood. Through these graceful and eloquent poems, written from the child's perspective, readers will experience this resilience, this optimism, and understand that it is possible to get through difficult and unsettling times while holding onto one's hopes and dreams for a better, more peaceful future.