save your tears
for those who cannot
cry for themselves

save your tears
for meaningful things

for birds of flight
who have lost their wings

for the baby seal
dark eyes eternally deep
who trusting man
feels his heavy club
before eternal sleep

don't cry for your own
misfortune
or pain

think of trees
showered with acid rain

save your tears
for things that
affect everyone

save your tears
for
meaningful things

like fewer song birds
to sing

cry for waters filled
with man's trash
for landfills
and sewage
and sooty ash

don't cry because
your possessions are few

or because
someone
doesn't care for you

cry for the rivers
cry for the sky
cry for the child
who doesn't know
why
his earth is covered
with concrete and steel

cry for the birds
cry for the trees

cry for diminishing numbers
of bees

cry till the world has
no more fears

cry till the salt
is gone
from your tears

cry till the water
that runs
from your eyes
becomes
a new river
clear and wide

let it pour through
mountains
proud and tall

let it rush
to the ocean
mother of all

may she embrace
the rain from
your eyes
water of a being
loving and wise

save your tears
for meaningful things
save your tears
for birds without wings

save your tears