THE murmur of a waterfall A mile away, The rustle when a robin lights Upon a spray, The lapping of a lowland stream On dipping boughs, The sound of grazing from a herd Of gentle cows, The echo from a wooded hill Of cuckoo's call, The quiver through the meadow grass At evening fall: -- Too subtle are these harmonies For pen and rule; Such music is not understood By any school: But when the brain is overwrought, It hath a spell, Beyond all human skill and power, To make it well. The memory of a kindly word For long gone by, The fragrance of a fading flower Sent lovingly, The gleaming of a sudden smile Or sudden tear, The warmer pressure of the hand, The tone of cheer, The hush that means "I cannot speak, But I have heard!" The note that only bears a verse From God's own word: -- Such tiny things we hardly count As ministry; The givers deeming they have shown Scant sympathy; But, when the heart is overwrought, Oh, who can tell The power of such tiny things To make it well! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE VANTAGE POINT by ROBERT FROST DEAD MEN, TO A METAPHYSICIAN by WILLIAM HERVEY ALLEN JR. VERMONT FOR A LITTLE GIRL by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER VACATION by SAMUEL VALENTINE COLE WAR IS KIND: 15 by STEPHEN CRANE |