Sep
12
by Craig McAnally
There was once a boy who wanted to change the world.
Unsure of how, he asked his mother.
“How do I change the world?”
And his mother said: “I do not know. You will need to ask the world.”
So the boy left his home and asked the grass.
“How do I change the world?”
The grass thought for a moment then said.
“I would not know. It is impossible for me to change the world.
Water makes me grow tall and wide.
And the sun makes me healthy and green.
I cannot change the world. The world changes me.”
Unhappy with that answer, the boy moved on.
He travelled far until he reached a mountain.
“How do I change the world?”
The mountain old and sturdy said.
“I would not know. It is impossible for me to change the world.
In the spring, grass makes me green,
And in the winter, snow makes me white.
I cannot change the world. The world changes me.”
Still unhappy, the boy moved on.
He walked for miles until he reached the ocean.
“How do I change the world?”
The ocean moved thoughtfully in and out of shore.
“I would not know. It is impossible for me to change the world.
Water from the mountain makes me rise and fall.
And the currents make me flow.
I cannot change the world. The world changes me.”
Discouraged, the boy walked home.
Once there his mother asked.
“Did you find the answer you were looking for?”
“No” said the boy.
“The grass, the mountain, and the ocean said
They could not change the world.”
“Well that does not seem right,” said his mother.
“Grass on the mountain makes it green and beautiful,
And the mountain sends water to nourish the ocean,
And water from the ocean makes grass tall and strong.
It seems to me that they fail to recognize their own importance.”
The boy thought for a moment and smiled.
He knew then that power to change the world was closer than he thought.
And it always was.
September 12th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Beautiful. This is exactly what I needed to hear this week.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:10 am
That’s beautiful Craig. You have a special talent. Have a great weekend.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Wonderful Craig, inspiring words to end the week….
September 12th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Very moving. On par with Maurice Sendak and Chris Van Allsburg.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Wow. That’s so incredibly moving and beautiful Craig! Very thoughtful and insightful too. Amazing job, as always.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Thanks everyone! I wrote this last night in the hopes of finishing off the week with a bit of optimism.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Thanks, Craig - Perfect lift for the day
September 12th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Ya know, Craiggers, in all this talk of your children’s novel, I thought, ‘Can he really write a novel for kids? I mean, sure he’s funny, and witty, and sarcastic in a good way, and even a bit naughty when he needs to be…but those aren’t things that belong in a children’s book. I just don’t know if he has it in him to write a children’s book.’
Craiggers, I now know all my worrying was unwarranted. Sorry I doubted you. And I look forward to reading your children’s book….or anything you write.
HUGS…
September 12th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Very nice. The question isn’t “how do I change the world?” but “how am I already changing the world?” and then applying that knowledge.
Now if only you knew somebody who could create kick-ass illustrations for a story like that. Dave S., know anybody?
September 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I was kinda hoping your book would be crap cause otherwise I’d be forced to translate it for my 7-year old nephew. Guess I’m out of luck
September 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Ps: Pretty pictures please, cause it helps draw the attention of the little lazy dude
September 12th, 2008 at 9:46 am
John: I just looked up who those authors were. Thank you very much for the compliment! I’ve actually never read “Where the Wild Things Are”. I really should.
Polt: That’s very nice of you to say. Thank you!
David from Brazil: Sorry to be a hassle!
September 12th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Beautiful…
September 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Maurice Sendak recently came out at the age of 80. His partner of 50 years died in 2007.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Is this the part of the story where we hit Sarah Palin over the head with a large club?
September 12th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Very beautiful. I love it. I like that the world changes us instead of us changing the world.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:31 am
(That was beautiful) (Your post, not Bossy’s comment) (Bossy’s comment was mean) (In a totally good way)
September 12th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Where The Wild Things Are is being made into a movie with a potential 2009 release, hopefully it will be amazing….
September 12th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Bossy, your method is totally unreliable. High-powered rifles from low-hanging airplanes = more fun and effective.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
But Marcus when they make a movie from an wonderful book it is rarely amazing. They either leave out large sections (unlikey in a short children’s book) or they add in something that is totally pointless or change the tone. But perhaps …. One can hope.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:52 am
That was really great. If your children’s book attempts to teach children lessons like that, then you are on the right track. Hurry up and finish it!
September 12th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I totally agree with Bossy…a mean statement, but in a totally good way.
HUGS…
September 12th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Tam, I saw a picture from the movie on some website I can’t remember and that is what gives me hope, the pic looked awsome…
September 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am
You made me curious Marcus so I googled. Hmmm. They are talking about reshooting the whole thing because the stuido hates how Spike Jonze filmed it. Too scary for kids. Not released until Oct. 2009. The pics I saw do look very cool though. Guess we’ll have to be patient.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Craig: Fantastic piece. I love that the mother is approachable and guides her son without coming across as superior. I also love how much character you have been able to establish in a relatively small piece. I also find your writing style to be very visual. I certainly would love to see illustrations along with the piece, but I don’t think they are required. Lastly, I love the message and that it wasn’t delivered with a hammer blow.
September 12th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
So… does the boy nuke it?
September 12th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Thanks Craig!
September 12th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Love it!
It is worded well and wisely written without being glurgey. Thanks for sharing it.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Lance sent me the link to your story- he said I’d want to print it and hang it on my wall- and he was right! It reminds me of Shel Silverstein’s THE GIVING TREE. I’d like to read it to the kids at my school for a classroom guidance lesson, if I may.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Thanks again everyone!
Jan: Absolutely! I’m honored you’d compare it to The Giving Tree. That is one of my absolute favorite books and definitely an inspiration.
September 13th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Craig, that was a beautiful tale. Seriously, two of my all time favorite books are children’s stories. “The Little Prince” and the bit in “The Velveteen Rabbit” where the rabbit and the skinhorse discuss the pain of becomming real.
There’s some kind of hopeful and yet depressing allegory in how we do not change the world, but it changes us. And the really lovely bit was how we change it in ways that even we cannot see or know. This could be a book, a classic children’s story. Expand this concept. I want to buy that book and I want it autographed!
This speaks to my soul.
September 13th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Oh, and have you read ” The Alchemist”, by Cohelo? Somewhat in the same leit motif.Another truly lovely allegory of a book. And “One” By Richard Bach is another favorite read.
Ok, I have a flaky taste in books. And apparently loghorrea.
Oh, and everything is politics. I didn’t comment on Monday’s post but EVERYTHING is political. And Polt and DaveS,you guys didn’t understand why Jerrel won on Wednesday, he did have the coolest, most avant guarde outfit. ( I was still pulling for Terri to be in my top 4, so I got that wrong)
And The Crystal Skull review you linked too, I spent hours of my life reading that nitpicky, rabid account. I cuss like a sailor and I was offended. True story, my 17 year old son and I watched it together at the midnight opening day show. And walked out of the theatre arguing about it. And we had pulled
an all-nighter a few days before and watched the first three movies back to back.
My major nit-pick, what your reviewer never mentioned was a miniscule thing.Mine was that the Russian’s drove across a border, from Mexico, and across a state(NM), never once stopping for gas or food or a potty-break. Or if they did, in 1957 US no one was concerned when a bunch of Russian’s came to town?
Because of that, I was never able to suspend my disbelief. I had other problems with the movie, but it never drew me in because of that. My son told me my concen is still as petty as it was when I lodged it when the movie came out.
But, yea, I’m still gonna buy the movie when it comes out on DVD, sheesh it’s effing Indiana Jones!
September 13th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Publish this you will make millions! Great stuff Craig! Im going to copy this and put it on my wall!
September 13th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Coming in Very Very Late, but this is a great story Craig! [Did you compose this on your new computer? If so, it's already shown itself worthwhile!]
September 14th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Craig…. This post NEEDS to be a book! You could even do it with simple photos that match the images you painted (mountains, grass, oceans). Leaving out the boy and his mom…. or only in silhouette so that the child to whom I read can picture his or her self as the child going out into the world. Way cool. Needs to happen whether with photos or awesome illustrations. I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
Would you mind if I read this to my class when I’m hired as a teacher someday? I think this would be a great end of the year send off….
September 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I’d love to turn this into a book. Preferably with some simple illustrations. Anyone with publishing company connections, feel free to make me a bazillionaire!
Everyone please feel free to share this with any children in your lives.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Oh, Craig, btw, make sure you copyright or protect somehow stuff you write. In today’s age you really can’t be too sure some weasel won’t try to make some profit out of you. I mean, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery they say, but I think actually paying for the idea works out much better for the author, dontcha agree?
September 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Craig copyrighted it by simply fixing it into a tangible form.
January 4th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
[...] how I wrote that story a while back called How to Change the World? You don’t? Well I did. And for fun I decided to draw some basic (read: very basic) [...]