It happened.
I woke up early this morning and listened to Bessie Smith and wondered what she would make of this glorious day. I think she would be proud and amazed. Our baby will be born with Obama in office. How can you keep from weeping with joy?? Hallelujah and Amen.

FOR THE CHILDREN

The rising hills, the slopes,
of statistics
lie before us.
the steep climb
of everything, going up,
up, as we all
go down.

In the next century
or the one beyond that,
they say,
are valleys, pastures,
we can meet there in peace
if we make it.

To climb these coming crests
one word to you, to
you and your children:

stay together
learn the flowers
go light

-Gary Snyder, 1974