‘Don’t Mention the Children’ | A poem for the children of Gaza, by Michael Rosen

Text Copyright © 2015 Michael Rosen, published by Smokestack Books ‘Don’t Mention the Children’ was written in 2014 by the children’s author, poet and activist Michael Rosen following a Guardian report that the Israeli government had banned a radio advert naming children killed in Gaza. Gaza is now the deadliest place in the world to be a child. Over 20,000 children have been killed by Israeli forces. The actual number is undoubtedly higher. These children had names, and favourite subjects in school. They wanted to be teachers, doctors and astronauts when they grew up – the same as children in the UK and across the world. They were, and still are, someone's everything: their entire universe. We refuse to allow their suffering to become normalised. We must make their voices heard. With Save the Children UK and Choose Love, we called on actors, presenters, activists and influencers to use their voices and platforms to ensure these children can never be erased. The poem was written to expose the silencing of children’s suffering in the face of devastating violence. Since then, the situation for children has only grown worse. Its message remains painfully relevant today. Demand Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take urgent action for children in Gaza and the West Bank. Sign our petition 🔗➡️ https://bit.ly/4n2rS4Y 'Don't Mention the Children' – a poem by: Michael Rosen Narrated by: Misan Harriman Zawe Ashton Beth Orton Laura Bailey Laura Whitmore Khalid Abdalla Dawn O’Porter Nadia Sawalha Jolyon Rubenstein Indira Varma Jen Brister Daniel Ings Denise Gough Stephen Kapos Max la Manna Ambika Mod Vanessa Redgrave Joely Richardson Nathalie Emmanuel Poppy Delevingne Dr Mo Mustafa Guy Pearce Michael Rosen Juliet Stevenson Annie Lennox