for the children

by Gary Snyder

FOR THE CHILDREN

The rising hills, the slopes,
of statistics
lie before us.

the steep climb
of everything, going up,
up, as we all
go down.

In the next century
or the one beyond that,
they say,
are valleys, pastures,
we can meet there in peace
if we make it.

To climb there coming crests
one word to you, to
you and your children:

stay toghther
learn the flowers
go light