Reality is often harsh. Adults have learned and accepted this. The children, however, are faced with the brutality of reality and are unable to accept it. For this reason, adults will do everything they can to soften the blows dealt to children before they are ready to know the truth. Children can be easily frightened or frightened. Adults want to make sure the child knows there is good in the world before they come face to face with evil. This desire to protect children is a common theme in many writings. Particularly in two poems, “A Barred Owl” by Richard Wilbur and “The History Teacher” by Billy Collins. “A Barred Owl” provides an explanation for the desire to protect children. Wilbur uses the first verse to tell a quick story. A small child wakes up to the sound of an owl hooting. The “awakened child” was then told that the forest bird was asking him a question. "'Who cooks for you?' and then 'Who cooks for you?'” (line 6) This is designed to make the child answer the question with his parents and feel happy. Second stanza explains to the reader why the child w...