Our Child, Come the Peace
by Keith Hearn

Our child shall walk among towering trees
in the silent shrouding mists of morning
in the heavy, rich colors of sunsets
and shall be one with them.

Our child shall run carefree over warm sands
below the soaring gulls, shall run with the
singing meadowlarks in open green fields
and shall be one with them.

Our child shall swim with fish big and small
in crystal pools of snow-melt waters,
in fantasy gardens below the ocean tops
and shall be one with them.

Our child shall help transform climbing cities
into places of freedom, warmth, love and hope
instead of all they are now, and are becoming,
and shall be one with them.

Our child shall love, cry, laugh, hurt,
sing, smile, toil and walk hand-in-hand
with brothers and sisters around the world
and shall be one with them.

Our child shall thrive with the love of parents
who will hold tight when falling threatens
and joyfully let go when it's time to be free
and shall be one with us.

Each of tomorrow’s children shall flourish
in all these marvelous ways we dream of,
but only if we create this new world for them.
And if we fail, our child may not be born,
but shall live in spirit within our hearts.

Newly married in 1970, my wife and I were preparing to make a pivotal decision — whether to have a child. We were deeply affected by the horror and senselessness of the Vietnam War, especially events such as the Mi Lai massacre and Kent State killings. With sorrow in our hearts, we decided this was not the time to bring another child into the world. But shining through our despair was our hope for a future of peace and a new respect for the unity of life. (6,7)