Words

Words are lighter tlian the cloud foara Of tlie rostless oceon spray ; Veteer than the trenibling shadow Thai the next hoor steals away ; Ey the fajl of Slimmer rain-drops Is the air ;s deoply stirred : And the rose-leaf that we tread on Will outlive a word. Yet on the dull silence breaking With a ligÈtning flash a word, Betering oadless desolatinn On its Hglitning wings, 1 board Earth can forge no keener weapon, Draling snrcr dcath and pain, And the cruel echo answered Throvtgh long years Egain. I have known one word hang slar-like O'er a dreai'V waste of years, And it only shone the brigliter Looked at through a mist of tears, Wliile a woary wanderer gathered Hope and haart on life'e (lark way, Jly its ihiihful pwmilti Iii' . Clearer day by day, I have known a spirit oalmer Than the calmest lakc, and clrnr As the heavens that gcused upon it, Witli no wave of hope orfear ; Cuta storm had swopt acrossit, And its deepest depths were stirred, Kever, nevcr more to slumber, Only by a word. I hs.ro known a word more gentle T!:nn the breath of Slimmer air - In a listem'ng heart it nestled, And it lived forever there. Not the beatjjig of its prison StirreS it ever, night or day ; Only witli the heart's last throlibing Could it fade away. Words are mighty, words are living; Serpents, with their veiiomeil süngs, Or bright angels, crowding rouiül as Wil li heavên's light upon their wings. Every word Uas its own spirit, True or false, that never dies ; Every word man's lips have uttered Echoes in God's skies.