i am open and i am willing to be hopeless would seem so strange it dishonors those who go before us so lift me up to the light of change there is hurting in my family there is sorrow in my town there is panic in the nation there is wailing the whole world round may the children see more clearly may the elders be more wise may the winds of change caress us even though it burns our eyes give me a mighty oak to hold my confusion give me a desert to hold my fears give me a sunset to hold my wonder give me an ocean to hold my tears1