Mattie J.T. Stepanek was a poet, a peace activist, and the best selling author of the Heartsongs poetry series. He was a motivational speaker and the National Goodwill Ambassador for the Goodwill Association for three years. He was born the youngest of four children, each with a life-threatening neuromuscular disease. Mattie's two oldest siblings died before he was born, and his brother Jamie died when Mattie was in preschool. He began writing poetry at the age of four to work through his brother's death. Mattie died in June 2004 from dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. This poem was written when Mattie was 11 years old.

Perhaps, we could…

Perhaps we could…
Let the reason for this season
Live throughout the coming year.
Let this season be the reason
To dispel all hate and fear.
Let each reason for our season
Unite us in one voice,
Let this season be our reason
To make hope and peace our choice.

Perhaps we share
In Kwanzaa,
Perhaps on Christmas day.
Perhaps with lighted candles
During Hanukkah we pray.
Perhaps we practice Ramadan,
Perhaps we meditate;
Perhaps we praise in other ways,
Or just believe in fate.

Perhaps we do not worship.
Perhaps we grace alone.
Perhaps it doesn't matter
Since true faith cannot be known.
Perhaps we could join voices;
Perhaps we could join hands.
Perhaps we could
Join peacefully
Our hearts in all the lands.

Perhaps we could…
Let the reason for this season
Live throughout the coming year.
Let this season be the reason
To dispel all hate and fear.
Let each reason for our season
Unite us in one voice,
Let this season be our reason
To make hope and peace our choice.

Perhaps we wish for harmony
Perhaps we strive for paz,
Perhaps we want tranquility
Or call out for spokaj.
Perhaps we pray for fred,
Perhaps amani or hoa bin
Or truce is what is said.

Perhaps we speak of amity,
Perhaps we seek repose,
Perhaps we pledge neutrality
Or pace for our foes
Perhaps we yearn for kai lug,
Perhaps for war to cease,
Perhaps it doesn't matter if
Our faith just leads to peace.

Perhaps we could…
Let the reason for this season
Live throughout the coming year.
Let this season be the reason
To dispel all hate and fear.
Let each reason for our season
Unite us in one voice,
Let this season be our reason
To make hope and peace our choice.


Perhaps, we could…
Lets the reason for this season
Live throughout the coming year.
Perhaps we could…
Let this season be the reason to
Rise above all fear.
Perhaps we could…
Let each reason for our season
Unite us in One Voice.
Perhaps, we should…
Let this season be
Our Reason to make
Hope and Peace Our Choice.

December 25, 2002- Mattie J.T. Stepanek