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Michael Rosen - Dead Children

Well Versed is edited by JODY PORTER

Dead Children
Michael Rosen

Israel bans radio advert listing names of children killed in Gaza
(The Guardian, 24/07/14)

Don't mention the children.
Don't name the dead children.
The people must not know the names
of the dead children.
The names of the children must be hidden.
The children must be nameless.
The children must leave this world
having no names.
No one must know the names of
the dead children.
No one must say the names of the
dead children.
No one must even think that the children
have names.
People must understand that it would be dangerous
to know the names of the children.
The people must be protected from
knowing the names of the children.
The names of the children could spread
like wildfire.
The people would not be safe if they knew
the names of the children.
Don’t name the dead children.
Don’t remember the dead children.
Don’t think of the dead children.
Don’t say: ‘dead children’.

 

Michael Rosen was the fifth Children’s Laureate and is the presenter of BBC Radio 4's regular magazine programme Word of Mouth. The author of nearly 150 books, Rosen also campaigns on issues of education, austerity and Palestine, often tackling them on his blog: http://michaelrosenblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Well Versed is edited by Jody Porter.
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