Living

Deeds of Kindness

by Epes Sargent 1813–1880

From The Home Book of Verse, ed. Burton Egbert Stevenson (1912)

Living

Suppose the little Cowslip
Should hang its golden cup
And say, "I'm such a little flower
I'd better not grow up!"
How many a weary traveller
Would miss its fragrant smell,
How many a little child would grieve
To lose it from the dell!

Suppose the glistening Dewdrop
Upon the grass should say,
"What can a little dewdrop do?
I'd better roll away!"
The blade on which it rested,
Before the day was done,
Without a drop to moisten it,
Would wither in the sun.

Suppose the little Breezes,
Upon a summer's day,
Should think themselves too small to cool
The traveller on his way:
Who would not miss the smallest
And softest ones that blow,
And think they made a great mistake
If they were acting so?

How many deeds of kindness
A little child can do,
Although it has but little strength
And little wisdom too!
It wants a loving spirit
Much more than strength, to prove
How many things a child may do
For others by its love.

MLA

Sargent, Epes. “Deeds of Kindness.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/sargent/7/.

Chicago

Sargent, Epes. “Deeds of Kindness.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/sargent/7/.

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