Instructions for Using the Survival Equipment

It's done like this:
you zip yourself inside
a kind of bag at first,
to separate you from
the shouts and doubts,
keeping the zipper tab
inside, at easy reach. You
wait for quiet, let it grow
and penetrate your cells.
Then, when all you hear
is the second-by-second
second-to-second calm pulse
of affirmation, saying
All right - I'm ready,
slowly, carefully unzip
the bag, emerge, stand like
a rock, yet warm inside,
complete, invulnerable. You
have taken your first step.
Next, you find another,
teach him the bag trick,
stand by him when he emerges.
That's four steps taken.
Watch him as he teaches some-
one else the bag trick
and stands by. (See? How many
steps already!) Keep
watching, standing by.
Always. Give aid, love, strength.
Remember what you're building.
Just concentrate on that.
Never mind how many millions
are in your town or world.
Nobody ever said that
walking up the Andes or Himalayas
would be easy. Neither is living
or staying alive these atom days.
This is how it's done.