"Speech to the Young," by Gwendolyn Brooks

Speech to the Young

Speech to the Progress-Toward

(Among them Nora and Henry III)

- Gwendolyn Brooks

1                     Say to them,                                                                     

2                     say to the down-keepers,

3                     the sun-slappers,

4                     the self-soilers,

5                     the harmony-hushers,                                                 

6                     “Even if you are not ready for day

7                     it cannot always be night.”

8                     You will be right.

9                     For that is the hard home-run.

10                 Live not for battles won.

11                 Live not for the-end-of-the-song.

12                 Live in the along.