Ryan J. Torres lives and writes in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He is a teacher and has published two books: Poem, and Other Four-Letter Words and A Rustle in the Attic. 

Playground
By Ryan J. Torres

At the park,
while walking the dog,
I passed the playground.

Within a world of wood shavings and swing sets
were children
running and giggling.

A Muslim child.
A Jewish child.
An African American child.
And a pale, Irish girl
being chased by a Hispanic boy.

They were all there.
And they were all out of breath from laughter.

There just wasn’t enough time to hate each other…
There were dragons to slay.

High seas to sail.

A Justice League to unite.

Someone had to save the world . . .

Imagine if we could strive to be those beacons of hope.
Imagine if we could unite for that common good.
Imagine how easily Hate could have a change of heart
if it just accepted the invite to play
instead of watching—
alone—
from outside of the fence.

The truth of our endurance
will leave that playground at dusk.
It will arrive home safely.
And after brushing its teeth,
and hearing a bedtime story,
it will dream of the heroes it will meet tomorrow.