The Hermit Poem by Sonya Annita Song

Somewhere beyond
The rolling seas,
Above the highest
Timber trees,
Upon a mountain
Capped with snow,
The Hermit sat
And gazed below.
He saw each creature,
All around,
He heard each heartbeat,
Every sound,
And what he saw
Just made him sad,
And what he heard
Just made him mad.
"Why is the earth
So full of hate?
Why do the tears
Never abate?
Where is the joy
To be alive?
Where is the hope
They need to thrive? "
The Hermit turned
Away dismayed,
Back to his cave
He would have strayed,
But as he got
Up to his feet,
His ears tuned in
To something sweet:
Faint peals of laughter,
Pure and bold,
Soft waves of giggling
Uncontrolled,
Excited splashing
In the rain,
And silly songs
Untouched by pain.
So Hermit searched
And found the source,
He twitched a smile
And said, "Of course,
Where children live
Hope will survive;
I trust as long
As they're alive
The earth is not
Completely lost
When children can
Redeem the cost."