Classic Poem

Beach Bubbles

" It's very lonely here, "
Sighed a shining little drop.
" I wish the busy waves
Would ever choose to stop.
I lie idle in this shell,
Rocking to and fro,
I should dearly love to join
The ocean in its flow.
But I will not sigh and murmur,
But be of better cheer
And try to find some pleasure
While lying lonely here. "
A warm-hearted sunbeam,
Glancing brightly by,
Heard the whisper of the drop
And listened to its sigh,
And thought within itself,
" I will reward it well,
And soon in a pleasant home
The patient drop shall dwell. "
So when the mists arose
From the bosom of the sea,
From its prison in the shell
The little drop was free.
For the sunbeam drew it up
And left it in the sky,
Where dark and gloomy clouds
Were swiftly rolling by.
" Alas, " said the little drop,
" Where shall I go?
All is strange above here,
I dare not look below.
Never mind, I'll be brave,
And banish all my fear,
The sun is in the heavens
And soon will appear. "
So patiently it stayed
In the stormy troubled sky,
Till other little drops
Came gaily hastening by.
" Oh come with us, " they cried,
" And join in our play,
We can dance and frolic now,
'Tis to be a rainy day. "
Then away went they all
From their cloudy home on high,
And merry games they played
Falling from the sky;
Some pattered on the house-tops,
Some tapped on the pane,
Calling to the children
To come and watch the rain;
Some fell in people's faces,
Taking roguish care
To drop upon their noses,
Or light among their hair;
Some splashed in the pools,
With a tinkle low and sweet,
Where the downy little ducklings
Bathed their yellow feet;
Some wet the quiet cattle
Drinking at the springs,
Causing them to wonder
At the ever-spreading rings.
Some went into the fields
Where corn was tall and green,
And washed the rosy faces
Of the poppies in between.
Some stole into the forest,
Rustling on the ground
All among the withered leaves
With a pleasant sound;
Filling empty acorn cups,
Lying far and near,
That the elves might find them
Full of water clear.
Some dashed into the ocean,
To swell its busy flow;
Some sank, to change ere long
Into precious pearls below.
But the patient little drop
Went on with many more,
Far away from the sound
Of the sea and its roar.
They went into the garden,
Where all the thirsty flowers
Danced upon their stems
To see the welcome showers;
And the drops all gladly fell
Into their bosoms fair,
Content to leave their play
And rest forever there.
But the little drop we follow
Sank deep into the ground,
And in its quiet bosom
A resting place it found.
" Ah! this is stranger far
Than sea shore or sky,
In what a dreary place
I have now come to lie.
Still, I'll keep a brave heart,
Something good will come,
And I at last may find
A quiet happy home. "
A little sprout hard by,
Wrapped in dusky skin,
Saw the lovely drop there
And softly sucked it in,
Saying " If you strengthen me,
Who am small and weak,
I will bear you upward
Into the light you seek. "
So together they rose daily
Till they reached the upper air,
And there the plant blossomed,
A flower fresh and fair.
And the drop, forgetting self,
Of the plant became a part,
And found a pleasant home
In the lily's golden heart.
Then the sunbeam smiling said,
" I have tried your patience well,
Now here, with the lily queen,
I'll leave you to dwell.
Be ever as patient, Drop,
And round you will play
The sunlight of happiness
That will never fade away. "