Faith Filled Friday: “The Children” by John Piper

Yesterday was the annual March for Life Day in Washington DC, the 42nd anniversary of that horrendous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.  It is the single greatest civil rights march of our day.  This is the third year in a row I have planned to go but had to alter plans.  Last year we had a crazy snow storm the night before that just made driving the four plus hours an impossibility.  The other two years I just could not take off from work that day.  I don’t know why but middle of January always seems to get complicated at work for me.  Perhaps because the holidays end and things that were on pause culminate into need.  This year I had even said no matter what I was going to go, but then I had to travel last week and I’ll have to travel next week, and so too many things at work required attention.  But my heart and prayers go to all the wonderful pro-lifers that inspire me so.

To commemorate the occasion I want to post this poem by Reformed Baptist Theologian, John Piper. I didn’t know anything about John Piper, but in researching I found he’s not only a theologian, but a somewhat accomplished poet as well.  He wrote “The Children” last year for the Roe v. Wade 40^th anniversary.  It has a Tennysonian play with rhyme and meter and a hymnal stanza form.  It seems to echo Robert Blake’s Songs of Innocence, though not one of those poems actually has the same form that I could find.  It’s certainly not “modern” but how else could a poet with an optimistic view project his vision aesthetically?  I think his poetic choices were well taken and it’s quite lovely.  Also, listen to John Piper beautifully read his poem on the clip at the bottom. 

The Children

Revised Edition for the 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

January 18, 2013 by John Piper 

Do you hear the children crying?

I can hear them every day,

Crying, sighing, dying, flying

Somewhere safe where they can play.

Somewhere safe from all the dangers,

Somewhere safe from Crack and AIDS,

Safe from lust and lurking strangers,

Safe from war and bombing raids.

Somewhere safe from malnutrition,

Safe from daddy's damning voice,

Safe from mommy's cool ambition,

Safe from deadly goddess, Choice.

Do you hear the children crying?

I can hear them every day,

Crying, sighing, dying, flying

Somewhere safe where they can play.

* * * *

Do you see the children meeting?

I can see them in the sky,

Meeting, seating, eating, greeting

Jesus with the answer why.

Why the milk no longer nourished,

Why the water made them sick,

Why the crops no longer flourished,

Why the belly got so thick.

Why they never knew the reason

Friends had vanished out of sight,

Why some suffered for a season,

Others never saw the light.

Do you see the children meeting?

I can see them in the sky,

Meeting, seating, eating, greeting

Jesus with the answer why.

* * * *

Do you hear the children singing?

I can hear them high above,

Singing, springing, ringing, bringing

Glory to the God of love.

Glory for the gift of living,

Glory for the end of pain,

Glory for the gift of giving,

Glory for eternal gain.

Glory from the ones forsaken,

Glory from the lost and lone,

Glory when the infants waken,

Orphans on the Father's throne

Do you hear the children singing?

I can hear them high above,

Singing, springing, ringing, bringing

Glory to the God of love.

* * * *

Do you see the children coming?

I can see them on the clouds,

Coming, strumming, drumming, humming

Songs with heaven's happy crowds.

Songs with lots of happy clapping,

Songs that set the heart on fire,

Songs that make your foot start tapping,

Songs that make a merry choir.

Songs so loud the mountains tremble,

Songs so pure the canyons ring,

When the children all assemble

Millions, millions, round the King.

Do you see the children coming?

I can see them on the clouds,

Coming, strumming, drumming, humming

Songs with heaven's happy crowds.

* * * *

Do you see the children waiting?

I can see them all aglow

Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting,

Who of us will rise and go?

Will we turn and fly to meet them

Will we venture something new?

I intend to rise and greet them.

Come and go with me, would you?