As I walked the mountain path, through the air, light & cold
In search of the oracle to ask my question bold
The chipmunks flanked my either side, chattered of my approach
The cedar curtains parted to reveal the rocky peak so old

Seated on a cedar stump, the Silver Marmot smiled
As if to say, “I know why you’re here, my seeking child.”
I laid down my offering of berries, roots, and flowers
And prepared to enquire of his prescient powers

Silver Marmot I know that you are wise among the beasts
A prophet and a soothsayer unequalled in the least
Still my question is so hard that maybe even you
Do not know the answer and that makes me blue

The Silver Marmot waited for my question to be voiced
And I had traversed many miles because I’d made the choice
To bring the question to him and to see what he might say
Now the sun was sinking low as we neared end of day

Silver Marmot humankind has not been very kind
Hubris, fear, and ignorance have made us nearly blind
The question that I ask of you, wise sir, is only this
Can the world ever find peace if we don’t know what it is

Then the Silver Marmot spoke in a voice of dirt and fire
Truly the state of the earth does seem very dire
Perhaps my skills of foresight have been oversold to you
The future is a mist to me but this I know is true

Humanity has hope and faith and love this trinity
Can cause you from vain pettiness and violence to be free
Two steps up and one step back ascend the mountain trail
Working thusly I don’t think the sincere heart can fail

I thanked the Marmot for his insight and followed the trail down
My footsteps now lit by the moon to the cricket sound
We will most surely fail if we don’t give it our all
But as the Silver Marmot said, love, it is our call