April is almost gone already! But if you are a young writer or an educator, parent or guardian of a young writer, there are 5 days left for you to answer Diverse Verse’s call for poetry. Details can be found on the diverse verse website.

It is hard, sometimes, to feel hopeful, especially when I think of children who are forced to face unthinkable violence and adversity in the face of armed conflicts in Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and so many other parts of the world. And yet, if we give up hope, what do we have left? I have to keep hoping, and writing. And despite the many hardships humans are facing around the world, I hope very much that if you are reading this, you will have a peaceful rest of the month, with time to read and write a poem or two, perhaps, that may give your soul solace and help you preserve your equanimity.