Classic Poem

THE Sioux sat around their wigwam fires
in winter with some papooses hung up
and some laid down.
And the Sioux had a saying, " Love grows
like hair on a black bear's skin. "

The Arabians spill this: The first gray
hair is a challenge of death.
A Polish blacksmith: A good black-
smith is not afraid of smoke.
And a Scandinavian warns: The world was born
in fire and he who is fire himself will be
at home anywhere on earth.
So a stranger told his children: You are
strangers — and warned them:

Bob your hair; or let it grow long;
Be a company, a party, a picnic;
Be alone, a nut, a potato, an orange blossom,
a keg of nails; if you get lost try a
want ad; if night comes try a long sleep.