Rise, Young Ones

We lean toward the ground
On all occasions.
Our shoulders, our hips
Seek the earth.
We die by degrees,
Everyone of us.

But we get out of bed
Every morning,
We greet dawn after dawn.
We charge through our days
Each faster than the last,
While ever knowing that
Surest destination.

We lean,
But we spend
Endless gestures
In rising.

And so I say:
Rise, young ones.
Even when you are old,
Even when all you see
Is the slanting mouth your
Very own doom,
Rise, as long as you can.