SONG OF HEALTH
For friends to stand beside, for foes to fight,
For devil’s work to break, for Wrong and Right,
And will (however hard) to choose between them:
For merry tales, no matter where you glean them:
Songs, stars, delight of birds, and summer roses,
Sunshine, wherein my friend the dog now dozes:
Danger—the zest of life, and Love, the lord
Of Life and Death: for every open word
Spoken in blame or praise by friend o’ mine
To spur me on: for old, good memories,
Keeping in my soul’s cellar like good wine:
For Truth that’s strong, and Beauty so divine:
For animals, and children, and for trees,
Both wintry-black and blossoming in white:
For homely gardens and for humming bees:
For drink, and dreams, and daisies on the sod,
Plain food, and fire (when it will light)—
Thank God!