OUT on the wisdom frozen By ice-cold doubts and fears! Why should life's path be chosen Through sorrow's vale of tears? A child, how I detested The "ifs" and "buts" to hear, When, with Hope's charm invested, Some promised joy was near: Still in my heart is shining The light divine, which lends Each cloud a silver lining, O'er storms a rainbow bends. Then welcome little swallow, Thou'lt bring the summer fair -- With pleasant thoughts I follow Thy waltzing through the air; What though bright flowers have faded, That once my pathway bless'd, What though green bowers are shaded, Where sunshine used to rest: Yet still my soul rejoices, And every shadow flies, When nature's thousand voices, In summer gladness rise. There's not a plant that springeth, But bears some good to earth -- There's not a life but bringeth Its store of harmless mirth -- The dusty way-side clover Has honey in its cells, The wild bee, humming over, Her tale of pleasure tells; The osiers, o'er the fountain, Keep cool the water's breast, And on the roughest mountain The softest moss is press'd. Thus holy Wisdom teaches The worth of blessings small, That Love pervades, and reaches, And forms the bliss of all; The trusting eye, joy-seeking, Some Eden finds or makes, The glad voice, kindly speaking, Some kindred tone awakes: Nor need we power or splendour, Wide hall or lordly dome; The good, the true, the tender, These form the wealth of home. The pilgrim swallow cometh To her forsaken nest -- So must the heart that roameth Return, to find its rest, Where Love sheds summer's lustre, -- And wheresoe'er 't is found, There sweetest flowers will cluster, And dearest joys abound; Thus Heaven to all doth render The prize of happiness; The good, the true, the tender, Earth's lowliest lot may bless. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A POEM FROM BOULDER RIDGE by JAMES GALVIN THE FEAST OF LIGHTS by EMMA LAZARUS YOUNG LINCOLN by EDWIN MARKHAM THE BRIDGE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE FUNERAL TREE OF THE SOKOKIS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |