If I Were in Charge of the World | Teen Ink

If I Were in Charge of the World MAG

By Anonymous

(Apologies to Judith Viorst)
If I were in charge of the world
My favorite flip-flops would never wear out.
There would be no books of poems with the
last page missing,
No hairy spiders to hide in the corners.
If I were in charge of the world
I would have a never-ending string of puddles
to jump in,
And mothers would never scold their children
for tracking mud halfway down the hall.
If I were in charge of the world
There would never be hungry but always satisfied,
Except in the classroom, where
There would be endless shelves of books to feed
voracious minds.
I would find a way to make it easier
For everyone to understand that sometimes the same
stars can make
multiple constellations,
And that Archimedes was right:
You can move the world if only you have a lever and
a place to stand.



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This article has 259 comments.


on Aug. 5 2013 at 9:44 am
RelativetoWriting GOLD, Brecksville, Ohio
13 articles 0 photos 34 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes."
-Walt Whitman

I like the way your poem triggers the idea of a utopian world without making it seem overly-idealistic. Commendable work!

sarah98 BRONZE said...
on Jul. 14 2013 at 1:59 pm
sarah98 BRONZE, Holyoke, Massachusetts
1 article 0 photos 405 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to write for yourself and have no audience than write for your audience and have no self.

this was inspiring and made me think about my ideal world, and the best poems are the ones that make you think

on Jun. 22 2013 at 11:16 pm
Gage1121 BRONZE, Santa Maria, California
2 articles 0 photos 6 comments
great poem. if u guys can please check out my work i wud love feedback if u can please comment and rate 

on May. 31 2013 at 9:17 pm
StarGazer9 GOLD, Marana, Arizona
19 articles 0 photos 79 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do."

I can track mud across the carpet in your world?! Sweeet...

rhea752 GOLD said...
on May. 31 2013 at 7:16 pm
rhea752 GOLD, Merritt Island, Florida
16 articles 1 photo 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
Maybe it's not about the happy ending, maybe it's about the story.

I wish I live in your world. Very nicely written

on Mar. 27 2013 at 12:08 pm
Positivity_At_Its_Finest DIAMOND, Morrow, Georgia
56 articles 2 photos 148 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is a stage, get on it and perform your best act.

your world sounds peaceful and filled with love!!! :)

on Feb. 12 2013 at 4:06 pm
CowboysAndAngels BRONZE, Carrollton, Ohio
2 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
The only thing to fear is fear itself

That was wonderful! You are a truley talented poet. If you don't mind, I would appriciate it if you could check out mine, I would love to hear what your feedback

on Feb. 12 2013 at 1:44 pm
PirateCountry DIAMOND, Muncie, Indiana
91 articles 18 photos 330 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

This poem makes me feel like with just a little imagination, anything is possible. Even being in charge of the world!

Picus. said...
on Feb. 12 2013 at 12:05 pm
Outstanding. Good Job! I wish I could write like that. =/ 

Lokelani said...
on Feb. 12 2013 at 11:47 am
Hey, Hoodster, I read your poem "Dream Girl". Are you sure you've never written poetry before? (GOOD JOB!)

on Dec. 31 2012 at 10:00 pm
Writer15 BRONZE, Henderson, Nevada
2 articles 4 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I don't go by the rule book... I lead from the heart, not the head." -Princess Diana

Wow, this is amazing! I love how you say the same stars are in multiple constellations, and your reference to Archimedes. Brilliant! I absolutely love it!

Binte SILVER said...
on Dec. 31 2012 at 10:17 am
Binte SILVER, -, Other
5 articles 0 photos 33 comments
Great concept! Loved the ending! :)

on Dec. 9 2012 at 3:11 pm
Dreamer_ SILVER, Milton On, Other
7 articles 10 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We're all mad here" ~ Cheshire Cat

"Whats your dream?"
"To go, away." ~ Surfs Up.

Really good! And so true, the world would be a wonderful place if you were in charge ;)

on Oct. 31 2012 at 5:24 pm
ChobaniLuvinPenguin PLATINUM, Brooklyn, New York
29 articles 0 photos 85 comments

Favorite Quote:
"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well."
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Jessica, your poem is so touching! It is truly beautiful, especially the last part that begins with "I would find a way to make it easier"! The poem is so unique and thoughtful, and it will stay with me forever. Thank you for contributing this to TeenInk! Keep writing!!!!

. said...
on Oct. 26 2012 at 7:47 pm
I like the reference to Archimedies, it's very creative.

MSBCBB said...
on Oct. 26 2012 at 10:17 am
MSBCBB, Goose Creek, South Carolina
0 articles 0 photos 8 comments
The only line that gave me joy was, "There would be no books of poems with the  last page missing...". 

MSBCBB said...
on Oct. 26 2012 at 10:17 am
MSBCBB, Goose Creek, South Carolina
0 articles 0 photos 8 comments
The only line that gave me joy was, "There would be no books of poems with the  last page missing...". 

on Sep. 24 2012 at 11:15 am
MarieAntoinette2014 DIAMOND, Scottsburg, Indiana
54 articles 2 photos 237 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isn't it ironic? We ignore the ones who adore us, adore the ones who ignore us, love the ones who hurt us, and hurt the ones that love us.

Whoa!!! I like this poem to but easy on Yates, my friend.

on Aug. 21 2012 at 3:32 pm
k8husted PLATINUM, Central Point, Oregon
27 articles 3 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
Bliss Cavendar:(Whip it 2009) The last time I wore skates, they had
Barbies on them.

Put the link up then cause no one believes you.

on Aug. 21 2012 at 3:30 pm
k8husted PLATINUM, Central Point, Oregon
27 articles 3 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
Bliss Cavendar:(Whip it 2009) The last time I wore skates, they had
Barbies on them.

OMG! Think about it, common sense says that someone else had the idea first and he was giving then credit!. goodness