If I were God facts for kids

If I were God (original title: Vore jag Gud or Om jag vore gud) is a powerful poem by the famous Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. She is best known for her beloved children's books, like Pippi Longstocking. This poem shows a different side of her writing. It explores deep feelings about the world and its people.

About the Poem "If I were God"

What the Poem is About

In If I were God, Astrid Lindgren imagines what she would do if she were God. She says she would cry many tears. These tears would be for all the people on Earth. She would weep because of their cruelty and sadness. She would also cry for their fears and suffering.

Most of all, she would cry for the children. Lindgren felt that children should not have to suffer. She wished things were different for them. She imagined her tears could become a flood. This flood would cover everything. Then, finally, there would be peace and quiet.

Why Astrid Lindgren Wrote It

Years after writing the poem, Astrid Lindgren shared her thoughts. She often felt helpless when thinking about people's lives. This was especially true for children. She was sad about unfairness and harm to the environment. When she heard about bad things people did, it was hard for her. It made her question the good in humanity.

Lindgren's Feelings and Message

Lindgren was scared thinking about what children faced. She felt that those who made children suffer were not good people. She also spoke about refugee children. These children had to leave their homes. They faced hate in new places. They were sent back to their home countries. This happened even though they just wanted a safe place to live.

Astrid Lindgren deeply wanted to help all unhappy children. She often dreamed of giving a home to a child in need. She worked hard to support refugee children. Many of them were from places like the former Yugoslavia. She wrote to important world leaders. One was Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev. She pushed for peace in countries at war. She also wrote the introduction for a UNICEF book. This book, Jag drömmer om Fred (1994), showed drawings by refugee children.

How the Poem Was Created

Astrid Lindgren wrote If I were God in 1975. It was published many times. It appeared in countries like Sweden and Germany. The poem was translated into English in 2018. It was then published in the book Never Violence!. Kerstin and Roger Tanner translated the poem.

Different artists created pictures for the poem. Stina Wirsén made illustrations for the English version. Before that, Ilon Wikland illustrated some Swedish and German editions.

Astrid Lindgren wrote other poems too. Some of her poems were turned into songs. These songs were used in films based on her stories. Other poems became part of her famous tales.

Music and the Poem

A Dutch composer named Patrick van Deurzen created music for the English text of the poem. He wrote it for a choir, viola, and cello. This shows how powerful Lindgren's words are. They can inspire different forms of art.

Lindgren's Connection to Her Poem

In 1998, Astrid Lindgren had a stroke. After this, she asked her daughter and a friend to read to her. Among the books she wanted to hear was her own poem, If I were God. This shows how much the poem meant to her. It was a very personal and important piece of her work.

Where to Find the English Poem

• Astrid Lindgren: If I were God. You can find this poem in the book Never Violence! (English edition). It was published in 2018 by Astrid Lindgren Text. The poem is on pages 42–45.