Every Child

Every child should know a hill,
And the clean joy of running down its
       long slope
With the wind in his hair.
He should know a tree--
The comfort of its cool lap of shade,
And the supple strength of its arms
Balancing him between earth and sky
So he is the creature of both.
He should know bits of singing water--
The strange mysteries of its depths,
And the long sweet grasses that
       border it.
Every child should know some scrap
Of uninterrupted sky, to shout against;
And have one star, dependable
       and bright,
For wishing on.

       ~ Edna Casler Joll