Lies
Lying to the young is wrong.
Proving to them that lies are true is wrong.
Telling them that God’s in his heaven
and all’s well with the world is wrong.
They know what you mean.
They are people.
Tell them difficulties can’t be counted,
and let them see not only what will be
but see with clarity these present times.
Say obstacles exist they must encounter,
sorrow comes, hardship happens.
The hell with it. Who never knew
the price of happiness will not be happy.
Forgive no error you recognize,
it will repeat itself, increase,
and afterward our pupils
will not forgive in us
what we forgave.
by Yevgeny Yevtushenko
from Yevtushenko; Collected Poems,
Penguin Books, 1952
translation Robin Milner-Gulland and Peter Levi