Exchange Student

Cloaked in the flag

Of the country of his birth

He reaches out

To embrace a new land

Trusting

Never doubting

He is a child of hope

Full of dreams and aspirations

For a better tomorrow

For a better shot at this life

For a better version of the world

Than the one he was given

What will he create

From his youthful vision

What worlds will he shape

What version of the Earth

Will he pass on

I believe it will be a better one

Full of kindness

Full of compassion

And tolerance

And peace

And gentle leadership

The world this child creates

Will be a world where art

Is cherished and respected

Where kindness

Is as commonplace

As the loving words

He spreads to all

Where tolerance

Slides from our tongues

As easily

As the many languages he speaks

Where education is no longer a concept

But a reality

A tangible, usable thing

To be used as it is meant to be

Not flaunted like trophies

Of fake gold and silver

Left to gather dust in some dark tomb

This world he creates

Will be wider and larger

Bigger and brighter

Broadened by peace

And love

And understanding

And one day in the future

In the future he creates

Children like him

Won't be called foreigners

They'll be called innovators

And leaders

And peacemakers

And revolutionists

They'll be called what they really are

Like every child

Simply called

The future