This happened once upon a time
when these special boys and girls were about nine.
By the home of a girl named Liberty
stood a ragged old see-saw under a tree
with magic powers that only a few could see
and one of those few was Liberty.
One day a boy named
Patriotism and his sister ¾ Free,
went to visit Liberty
because Patriotism was trying as hard as could be
to become the leader of all the children in the community.
“May I lead you, Liberty?” Patriotism said. “I
have some very good ideas in my head.”
Liberty stood quietly.
First she looked at Patriotism, then at Free.
Soon her eyes lit-up in her head,
and with great enthusiasm this is what she said:
“Patriotism! Have your ideas ever traveled beyond the stars? Or
flung themselves beyond Jupiter and Mars? Or
played in the other universes ¾ beyond this one? Or
tipped-toed, like on hot coal, from sun to sun? If
your ideas haven’t done these, I must confess. Your
ability to lead me hasn’t passed the test.”
Then Liberty said to Free,
Let’s go sit on that magic see-saw under the tree.
As we sit there you’ll see
that you are just the same as me.”
So Liberty and Free ran off with glee
and sat on the magic see-saw under the tree.
Patriotism stood there quietly
looking at Liberty and Free
but the magic he couldn’t see
of the see-saw under the tree
¾ for Liberty and Free sat as still as could be
on the magic see-saw on the tree.
They didn’t go up and they didn’t go down
and see-saw can’t go round and round.
Patriotism wondered what could it be
and why he was unable to see
the magic of the see-saw under the tree.
But soon to join him was Democracy
and his baby sister, Morality.
“May I lead both of you?” Patriotism said. I
have some wonderful ideas in my head.
“But are your ideas fair?” questioned Morality.
“I like people who share,” mentioned Democracy.
“And obey the rules!” said Morality.
“And participate in school! said Democracy. “But
more that this,” he continued with a sigh,
“have you ever heard all the children in the world?
¾ those who laugh and those who cry?
Have you seen the grown-ups
struggling to make ends meet?
And the children in other countries
without enough food to eat?”
Morality nodded and said, “I agree.
It takes more than mere trying to lead me.
You must see all the bullies in the world around
and have the courage to tell them
what there’re doing are wrong.
All these things you must learn to see
if you want to lead Democracy and me.
Then Democracy told Morality
“Let’s go and play with Liberty and Free
on the magic see-saw under the tree.
As we sit there you’ll see
you’re the same as Liberty and Free
and in many ways the same as me.
So Democracy and Morality
ran off with glee
to play with Liberty and Free
on the magic see-saw under the tree.
Patriotism stood there quietly
looking at Liberty, Free,
Democracy and Morality
taking turns on the see-saw under the tree
but the magic he couldn’t see
of the magic see-saw under the tree
for they sat as still as could be
on the magic see-saw on the tree.
They didn’t go up and they didn’t go down
and see-saw can’t go round and round.
Patriotism wondered what could it be
and why he was unable to see
the magic of the magic see-saw under the tree.
The first to notice was Morality
that Patriotism had joined them under the tree.
“Will you take turns on the see-saw with me?”
He said to Democracy, Morality,
Liberty and Free.
“Sure!” they said, smiling happily”
“But I need to warn you,” said Liberty.
“You must sit as still as can be
then the see-saw will balance and you will see
the magic of this see-saw under this tree.”
Patriotism sat as still as could be
on the magic see-saw under the tree.
It balanced him with Free, then with Liberty
then it balanced him with Morality.
He continued to sit as still as could be
as he sat in balance with Democracy.
All the while though here is the thing
his mind didn’t know he was balancing.
Instead he was seeing ideas beyond Jupiter and Mars
He flung a few beyond the stars.
He heard children crying from hunger and thirst.
He saw the remedy in another universe.
He saw all the bullies in the world around.
And felt the courage to tell them they were wrong.
He felt good and just and fair.
He would let the world know he cared.
“Now,” said Democracy,
“you have learned and I think you'll agree:
In order to lead Morality, Liberty, Free and me,
you must have the knowledge that you will only see
when you balance with us as still as can be
on this magic see-saw under the tree.
So this is the story of how Patriotism learned to be
a leader to Liberty, Morality, Democracy, and Free,
plus three of the other kids in the community
who were close friends of Liberty
(Fairness, Justice, and Equality).
And to this day they all take turns sitting in balance as still as can be
¾ on the magic see-saw under the tree.
