*these are some things that i've read and really liked...not work that i wrote (to save some confusion =p)*
the dirge of beatrice by percy bysshe shelly
false friend, wilt thou smile or weep
when my life is laid asleep?
little cares for a smile or a tear,
the clay-cold corpse upon the bier!
farewell! higho!
what is this whispers low?
there is a snake in thy smile, my dear,
and abitter poison within thy tear.
sweet sleep, were death like to thee,
or if thou couldst mortal be,
i would close these eyes of pain;
when to wake? never again.
o, world! farewell!
listen to the passing bell!
it says, thou and i must part,
with a light and a heavy heart.
mama's hands by tommi jo casteel (from "chicken soup for the teenage soul")
i saw you hide your hands in line,
behind that lady fair,
i noticed too, hers soft and white-
immaculate from care.
but ma, i say, it's no disgrace
to have workin' hands like you,
and had she lived the life you have,
she'd have hands just like it too
but her hands have never hauled in wood,
or worked in god's good earth.
they've never felt the bitter cold,
or chopped ice for waitin' stock,
they've never doctored sick ones,
or dressed a horse's hock.
they've never pulled a hip-locked calf,
or packed water to the barn
they've probably never patched blue jeans,
or had worn ol' socks to darn.
they've never touched a young'n,
or caressed a fevered head,
with hands so gently folded,
all night beside his bed.
they've never scrubbed a kitchen loor,
or done dishes every day.
they've never guided with those hands
a child who's lost the way.
they've never made a christmas gift,
shaped by a lovin' hand.
they've never pelled apples,
nor vegetabes they've canned.
they've never worn a blister,
or had calluses to show,
for all they've done for others,
and the kindnesses i know.
so you see, my dearest mama-
your's are hands of love.
and i bet the lord will notice
when he greets you from above
smile by barbara hauck (also from chicken soup for the teenage soul)
she smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
the smile seemed to make him feel better.
he remembered past kindnesses of a friend
and wrote him a thank-you letter.
the friend was so pleased with the thank-you
that he left a large tip after lunch.
the waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
bet the whole thing on a hunch.
the next day she picked up her winnings,
and gave part to a man on the street.
the man on the street was grateful;
for two days he'd had nothing to eat.
after he finished his dinner,
he left for his small dingy room.
)he didn't know at that moment
that he might be facing his doom.)
on the way he picked up a shivering puppy
and took him home to get warm.
the puppy was very grateful
to be in out of the storm.
that night the house caught on fire.
the puppy barked the alarm.
he barked 'til he woke the whole household
and saved everybody from harm.
one of the boys that he rescued
grew up to be president.
all this because of a simple smile
that hadn't cost a cent.