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you'll be a man, tomorrow

You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, yes, If you respect animals and pristine nature, If you don’t kill elephants for ivory, If you don’t kill the whales for soap, You’ll be a man if you can stop time If you can listen to the birds in the trees, If you protect the oceans, give to the pure rivers, If you protect butterflies as much as tigers, You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, If you don’t think you’re superior to the embarrassed farmer, If you think about the cancer patient alone in bed, If you speak to the debased poet, who implores the moon, You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, yes, If you share their laughter with young Syrians If you admire the huge clouds in the sky, If you return their happiness to the bees of the garden, You will be a man tomorrow, my sweet child, If you offer your mother poems, bamboo necklaces, A precious perfume to the wife you cherish, Oranges and cherries to uneducated kids, You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, yes, If you plant one or two trees in your garden, If you meet hot beaches at night in Brazil, If you fly in a hot air balloon the Serengeti You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, only If you read André Gide, London, Mo yan or Camus, If you seek love in the storms of a book, If you hoist a mainsail on a white schooner, You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, yes, If you walk, when others run faster, If you pray in the golden churches of Bahia, one day, If you calm your heart in the New York subway, You will be a man tomorrow, my dear child, yes, If you hold on endlessly to your dream of America, If you can love God without ever finding him, cry In a wheat field, on a restaurant table, You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, yes, If you write poetry against the war in Ukraine, If you judge yourself worse before judging others, If you respect the sun like a bright father, You will be a man tomorrow, my dear child, yes, If you know how to work in salt mines, copper, If you can bake your bread for the eyes of a brunette, If you change the world to make a bird happy You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, yes, If you’re not afraid to die in the sun. You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, only If you were cherished by a princess and her horses. Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, oui, Si tu respectes les animaux et la nature vierge, Si tu ne tues pas les éléphants pour de l’ivoire, Si tu ne tues pas les baleines, pour du savon, Tu seras un homme si tu sais arrêter le temps Si tu sais écouter les oiseaux dans les arbres, Si tu protèges les océans, donne aux rivières pures, Si tu protèges les papillons autant que les tigres, Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, Si tu ne te crois pas supérieur au paysan gêné, Si tu penses au cancéreux seul dans son lit, Si tu parles au poète aviné, qui implore la lune, Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, oui, Si tu partages leurs rires avec de jeunes syriennes Si tu admires les nuages énormes dans le ciel, Si tu rends leur bonheur aux abeilles du jardin, Tu seras un homme demain, mon doux enfant, Si tu offres des poèmes à ta mère, des colliers de bambous, Un parfum précieux à l’épouse que tu chéries, Des oranges et des cerises à des gamins incultes, Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, oui, Si tu plantes un ou deux arbres dans ton jardin, Si tu rencontres des plages chaudes la nuit au Brésil, Si tu survoles en montgolfière le Serengeti Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, seulement Si tu lis André Gide, London, Mo yan ou Camus, Si tu cherches l’amour dans les tempêtes d’un livre, Si tu hisses une grand-voile sur une goélette blanche, Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, oui, Si tu marches, quand les autres courent plus vite, Si tu pries dans les églises dorées de Bahia, un jour, Si tu calmes ton cœur dans le métro de New York, Tu seras un homme demain, mon cher enfant, oui, Si tu t’accroches sans fin, à ton rêve d’Amérique, Si tu peux aimer Dieu sans jamais le trouver, pleure Dans un champ de blé, sur une table de restaurant, Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, oui, Si tu écris de la poésie contre la Guerre en Ukraine, Si tu te juges plus mauvais avant de juger les autres, Si tu respectes le soleil comme un père brillant, Tu seras un homme demain, mon cher enfant, oui, Si tu sais travailler dans les mines de sel, de cuivre, Si tu sais cuire ton pain pour les yeux d’une brune, Si tu changes le monde pour rendre heureux un oiseau Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, oui, Si tu ne crains pas de mourir sous un soleil sublime. Tu seras un homme demain, mon enfant, seulement Si tu as été chéri par une princesse et ses chevaux. PS, évidemment inspiré par Kypling et son immense poème, je le salue donc

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 7/6/2024 11:11:00 AM
Great poem Yann..reminds .e of Kiplings 'if' poem...
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Yann Rolland
Date: 7/7/2024 5:24:00 PM
thank you so much So for leaving a message
Date: 7/6/2024 5:14:00 AM
Beautiful pieces of advice from a father to his son on his growing into adulthood. There should be more number of parents now who think that they can influence their children in their right formation. If your son obeys half of what you have put forward, I am sure he will grow into a gentleman. A beautiful composition dear Yaan.
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Yann Rolland
Date: 7/7/2024 5:25:00 PM
thanks valsa for the dilicous and precious comment, you always find words to tell, appreciated, hugs
Date: 6/30/2024 2:34:00 PM
So much depth in this wise write! And it reminds me of a song too as i read this, i thought of cat stevens, father and son, but ofcourse the lyrics is different but somehow the wisdom passed on truly leaves the same creative impression! Brilliant! One that is powerful! Pleasure reading your work always: sending you light
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Yann Rolland
Date: 7/6/2024 2:11:00 AM
Thanks Ie, for the wonderful and generous comment, you are really appreciated yann
Date: 6/29/2024 4:52:00 AM
Good advice to a young boy. Someday you will be a man for sure. Thanks for sharing this one with us. Sara K
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Yann Rolland
Date: 7/6/2024 2:12:00 AM
thnks sara for stopping by so kindly, e,njoy your day
Date: 6/28/2024 1:41:00 AM
You have given your child, great advice. Our earth needs more care than that which is given to it. Should be shared by al. Thanks for your visit to my site.
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Yann Rolland
Date: 7/6/2024 2:12:00 AM
thanks a lot victor, enjoyed your stopping by, as always
Date: 6/27/2024 12:01:00 PM
Excellent write! Many think there’s only one important thing to becoming a man, but you show the dimensions of a true man, sharing the wisdom in childhood. What a cool way that would be to share!
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Yann Rolland
Date: 6/27/2024 10:51:00 PM
thanks a lot Kim, for the comprehension and complimenting, have a nice week end thanks also to R. Kipling who inspired my little poem and fantasy, good vibes yann
Date: 6/27/2024 12:39:00 AM
Loved this poem, and great wisdom in it!
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Yann Rolland
Date: 6/27/2024 10:52:00 PM
thank arthur for your kind support best wishes
Date: 6/26/2024 4:52:00 PM
A wonderful poem my friend. A great message, Yann
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Yann Rolland
Date: 6/27/2024 10:53:00 PM
thanks alot Jerry, appreciated your stopping by
Date: 6/26/2024 3:22:00 PM
You will become a man whether you follow rules and expectations or take your own path to truth Yann. Nicely penned well done
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Yann Rolland
Date: 6/27/2024 10:54:00 PM
Thanks Rose, for your beautiful comments and poetry, enjoy your day
Date: 6/25/2024 9:50:00 PM
Very nice, had a lot of wisdom here....you should read Kipling's "If" had a similar message in his poem
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Yann Rolland
Date: 6/27/2024 10:55:00 PM
thanks a lot Paige, if you have read the french version, i mentioned KIpling, i owe him admiration and feelings, best wishes yann

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