PRAYER FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

May the road be free for the journey,
May it lead where it promised it would.
May the stars that gave ancient bearings
Be seen, still be understood.
May every aircraft fly safely,
May every traveller be found.
May sailors in crossing the ocean
Not hear the cries of the drowned.

May gardens be wild, like jungles.
May nature never be tamed.
May dangers create of us heroes,
May fears always have names.
May the mountains stand to remind us,
Of what it means to be young.
May we be outlived by our daughters,
May we be outlived by our sons.

May the bombs rust away in the bunkers,
And the doomsday clock not be rewound.
May the solitary scientists working
Remember the holes in the ground.
May the knife remain in the holder,
May the bullet stay in the gun.
May those who live in the shadows
Be seen by those in the sun.

John Marsden

I first came across this poem when I read 'When by Now and Tree by Leaf', a bittersweet fic by Pyrebi (which can be found in my favourites). I found it amazing.

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did

Women and men (both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

'anyone lived in a pretty how town'
e.e. cummings

For my wonderful beta and even more magnificent friend, visit http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1376753/> (AznSerenity, formerly DarknessVsLiight, also previously known as InuYashaRox4AllEternity and DragonLoverEragonLover... did I forget one?)