Classic Poem

“What is the real good?”
—I asked in musing mood.
Order, said the law court;
—Knowledge, said the school;
Truth, said the wise man;
—Pleasure, said the fool;
Love, said the maiden;
—Beauty, said the page;
Freedom, said the dreamer;
—Home, said the sage;
Fame, said the soldier;
—Equity, said the seer;
Spoke my heart full sadly,
—“The answer is not here.”
Then within my bosom
—Softly this I heard:
“Each heart holds the secret;
—Kindness is the word.”

“What is the real good?”
—I asked in musing mood.
Order, said the law court;
—Knowledge, said the school;
Truth, said the wise man;
—Pleasure, said the fool;
Love, said the maiden;
—Beauty, said the page;
Freedom, said the dreamer;
—Home, said the sage;
Fame, said the soldier;
—Equity, said the seer;
Spoke my heart full sadly,
—“The answer is not here.”
Then within my bosom
—Softly this I heard:
“Each heart holds the secret;
—Kindness is the word.”

“What is the real good?”
—I asked in musing mood.
Order, said the law court;
—Knowledge, said the school;
Truth, said the wise man;
—Pleasure, said the fool;
Love, said the maiden;
—Beauty, said the page;
Freedom, said the dreamer;
—Home, said the sage;
Fame, said the soldier;
—Equity, said the seer;
Spoke my heart full sadly,
—“The answer is not here.”
Then within my bosom
—Softly this I heard:
“Each heart holds the secret;
—Kindness is the word.”