Drop
a pebble in the water:
Just
a splash, and it is gone;
But
there's half-a-hundred ripples
Circling
on and on and on,
Spreading,
spreading from the center,
Flowing
on out to the sea.
And
there is no way of telling
Where
the end is going to be.
Drop
a pebble in the water:
In
a minute you forget,
But
there's little waves a-flowing,
And
there's ripples circling yet,
And
those little waves a-flowing
To
a great big wave have grown;
You've
disturbed a mighty river
Just
by dropping in a stone.
Drop
an unkind word, or careless:
In
a minute it is gone;
But
there's half-a-hundred ripples
Circling
on and on and on.
They
keep spreading, spreading, spreading
From
the center as they go,
And
there is no way to stop them,
Once
you've started them to flow.
Drop
an unkind word, or careless:
In
a minute you forget;
But
there's little waves a-flowing,
And
there's ripples circling yet,
And
perhaps in some sad heart
A
mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And
disturbed a life was happy
Ere
you dropped that unkind word.
Drop
a word of cheer and kindness:
Just
a flash and it is gone;
But
there's half-a-hundred ripples
Circling
on and on and on,
Bearing
hope and joy and comfort
On
each splashing, dashing wave
Till
you wouldn't believe the volume
Of
the one kind word you gave.
Drop
a word of cheer and kindness:
In
a minute you forget;
But
there's gladness still a-swelling,
And
there's joy circling yet,
And
you've rolled a wave of comfort
Whose
sweet music can be heard
Over
miles and miles of water
Just
by dropping one kind word.
By James William Foley