Classic Poem

Oh pure and gentle ones, within your ark
Securely rest!
Blue be the sky above — your quiet bark —
By soft winds blest!

Still toil in duty and commune with heaven,
World-weaned and free;
God to his humblest creatures room has given,
And space to be.

Space for the eagle in the vaulted sky
To plume his wing —
Space for the ring-dove by her young to lie,
And softly sing.

Space for the sun-flower, bright with yellow glow
To court the sky —
Space for the violet, where the wild woods grow,
To live and die.

Space for the ocean, in its grant might,
To swell and rave —
Space for the river, tinged with rosy light,
Where green banks wave.

Space for the sun, to tread his path in might,
And golden pride —
Space for the glow-worm, calling by her light,
Love to her side.

Then pure and gentle ones, within your ark
Securely rest!
Blue be the skies above, and your still bark
By kind winds blest.