WE CAN MEET THERE IN PEACE

While looking through my books, deciding which to keep and which to let go, I found my mother's copy of TURTLE ISLAND, first published by Gary Snyder in 1969. Yikes!!!! 40 years ago. She had bookmarked this poem, highlighting the last three lines. I'm going to keep my mother's book and let go of my copy. My mother spoke through books.


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 these coming crests
one word to you, to
you and your children

stay together
learn the flowers
go light