Moved by a Messenger
By Omekongo Dibinga

In a world where violence is the norm of the day
A little boy came our way and he had something to say
Mattie J.T. Stepanek born in 1990
Started writing poetry at the age of 3
A boy who came from humble beginnings
Became friends to Jimmy Carter, Oprah, Larry King
But the fame that came never changed Mattie
Used his popularity to change humanity
And through this process he inspired me
I aspire to inspire ‘fore I expire see
So I had to tell the story of the son of Jeni
Never met him though he lived down the street from me
His heart songs spoke to the peace that we long
And he took time to play after every storm
From playing with his Legos he built peace with his vision
And laid the groundwork to continue his mission

Need messengers for peace to stop bullying
Need teachers to teach peace in their schooling
Make peace possible, end homophobia
Make our country free from xenophobia
Let’s erase racism, eradicate hate
No room for anti-Semites in United States
No more police brutality
Gangs strive for neutrality
Gotta stop insanity
What matters is morality
Mattie stood up for everyone
All races and religions that live under the sun
If we give peace a chance we make tomorrow better
Cause peace is possible when we’re working together
Mattie was an angel and his dream was for peace
He had high hopes and now his dream’s within our reach

Let us pray, differently, yet together
And work every day to make our whole world better
Before there’s no earth, no life, no chance for peace
Sudan, Myanmar, the Middle East
In so many ways, we are the same
Gotta stop picking out our differences to blame
What language do you laugh in? What accent do you cry in?
Mattie marketed unity we need to buy in
If you could just be silent, just for a moment
We can make Mattie’s dream come true if we just own it
Do what you can with what you have where you are
Mattie used poetic license now we’re driving his car
Mattie’s message moved millions but there’s more to do
A new millennium Mattie might reside in you
In 14 years Mattie changed the world so can you
Be a soldier for peace cause our army needs you