And then the Children Took Control...

I had a dream
that all the children of the world rose up
and let off steam
and marched upon the rulers of the world,
the so-called cream,
and told them plainly that the game was up:
a new regime,
one based on play - fair play - and chance - a chance
for all - and schemes
for world-wide happiness, were needed now.
Then on each green
a parliament would come together: "dib,
dib, dib," the team
would carol, "you're not 'it'," to choose the one
to be supreme
commander for the day. A session, though,
might end with screams...
"I've called you twice! I want you in for tea!"
(something not foreseen)
"And don't forget to wash your hands and face!
I want them clean!"
The kids were serious with a light touch.
None were extreme.
Some planned when they grew up to join the ranks
of Academe.
Some parliaments formed monarchies, creating
Kings and Queens.
The Kings and Queens gave banquets for their peers -
mostly of ice-cream.
Retirement age for leaders was set at
seventeen,
but most of them outgrew it and resigned
before thirteen.
The world became increasingly less fraught
and more serene;
folk laughed and joked with leaders where before
they'd vented spleen.
It was the daftest, most relaxed and comic
world yet seen,
and everywhere were people basking in
new self-esteem.
The kids abandoned armies, and their eyes
were all agleam
when fighting paintball battles in the mountains,
woods and streams.
They closed the gaols, sent baddies back to school,
feeding them baked beans,
and kids whose goals were anti-life had to
explore their themes
by making horror videos to watch
on the small screen.