Lying to the young is wrong. <br />Proving to them that lies are true is wrong. <br />Telling them <br /> that God’s in his heaven <br />and all’s well with the world <br /> is wrong. <br />They know what you mean. <br /> They are people too. <br />Tell them the difficulties <br /> can’t be counted, <br />and let them see <br /> not only <br /> what will be <br />but see <br /> with clarity <br /> these present times. <br />Say obstacles exist they must encounter, <br />sorrow comes, <br /> hardship happens. <br />The hell with it. <br /> Who never knew <br />the price of happiness <br /> will not be happy. <br />Forgive no error <br /> you recognize, <br />it will repeat itself, <br /> a hundredfold <br />and afterward <br /> our pupils <br />will not forgive in us <br /> what we forgave. <br /> <br /> <br />1952 <br />Translated by Robin Milner-Gulland and Peter Levi (revised)<br /><br />Yevgeny Yevtushenko<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lies-69/
