The bright light of peace!

All the world

advancing in joyful harmony,

a world lit

by the bright cheer of peace!

  * * *

In the words of

one statesman:

Peace is not found

in the interval

between one war

and the next.

Where there is no peace,

happiness is unthinkable.

  * * *

We will struggle relentlessly

against those who would destroy peace.

We will struggle relentlessly

against those who force

their evil on others.

We will struggle relentlessly

against those who author

secret wrongs,

inflicting these

with callous abandon.

  * * *

I raise my voice

and call out to them:

Do not lose yourself in the maze.

Do not succumb

to the allure of squander.

Do not sink in bogs

of destruction and vanity!

Beware of all that

warps your humanity!

The purpose of living is happiness,

an outcome only determined

in the full and final measure

of a person’s life.

  * * *

Where life is cherished,

there peace is found.

Where people are united

in the richness of their hearts,

there peace exists

as a tangible reality.

  * * *

Crowds gather

in the morning mist

hailing, calling out their praise

for mothers and for peace.

Your shining eyes,

directed at human happiness

and at peace,

are filled with ageless wisdom.

I offer my solemn tribute

to you who have embraced

so many desperate people,

who have grown to become

a proud and gifted teacher

of the soul’s eternal songs.

* * *

As Socrates declared:

What is important

is not simply to live,

but to live well.

As Victor Hugo cried:

Young people, take heart.

If there are those who would make

the present difficult,

our future will be beautiful.

  * * *

My friend!

Upholding the dignity of life

maintain the calm

and confident manner

of one eternally victorious,

of one whose spirit sprints

swiftly ahead.

  * * *

With splendid effort

let us win and gain

the crown

of inner victory!

No matter what,

please win!

I also, am most assuredly

determined to win.

Salute this procession,

this triumphant march toward peace!

June 2, 2001