Studies of Sensation and Event Poems: By Ebenezer Jones. Edited, Prefaced and Annotated by Richard Herne Shepherd with Memorial Notices of the Author by Sumner Jones and William James Linton |
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TACT IN KINDNESS.
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 | Studies of Sensation and Event |  |
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TACT IN KINDNESS.
What its sound is to the shower,
What its smoothness to the flower,
What its silence to the kiss,—
All this tact to kindness is.
What its smoothness to the flower,
What its silence to the kiss,—
All this tact to kindness is.
Of the sound of the rain, of the feel of the flower,
Now there is not a bard but would carol the praise;
Then to tact, when subservient to kindness its power,
May not I fitly give one of my humble lays?
For though tact be a word that weds music not kindly,
Let the sweet of its meaning make up for its sound;
Without tact all kindness must go to work blindly,
And inflame when it seeks to relieve the heart's wound.
Now there is not a bard but would carol the praise;
Then to tact, when subservient to kindness its power,
May not I fitly give one of my humble lays?
For though tact be a word that weds music not kindly,
Let the sweet of its meaning make up for its sound;
Without tact all kindness must go to work blindly,
And inflame when it seeks to relieve the heart's wound.
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Granted sometimes deception included in tact,
And oftenest deception the handmaid of sin;
Yet deception sometimes is by virtue enact,
And some universal applauses shall win;
Yea, though truth crowning glory of virtue is, still
Sometimes 'tis a luxury the good must forego;
Ask Trotty who feign'd to have supp'd that starved Will
Might eat the whole meal, yet without remorse go.
And oftenest deception the handmaid of sin;
Yet deception sometimes is by virtue enact,
And some universal applauses shall win;
Yea, though truth crowning glory of virtue is, still
Sometimes 'tis a luxury the good must forego;
Ask Trotty who feign'd to have supp'd that starved Will
Might eat the whole meal, yet without remorse go.
Oh! seem when one serving, to be yourself served;
Conceal not your blush when entirely bestowing;
Expose, if you're woman, yourself all unnerved,
When a lover's false hopes kindly all overthrowing;
Serve not on one absolute plan, as though tending
Herds or flocks; but each kindness effect in a way
To each weakness adapted, and so be commending
That tact half whose goodness words fail to display.
Conceal not your blush when entirely bestowing;
Expose, if you're woman, yourself all unnerved,
When a lover's false hopes kindly all overthrowing;
Serve not on one absolute plan, as though tending
Herds or flocks; but each kindness effect in a way
To each weakness adapted, and so be commending
That tact half whose goodness words fail to display.
What its sound is to the shower,
What its smoothness to the flower,
What its silence to the kiss,—
All this tact to kindness is.
What its smoothness to the flower,
What its silence to the kiss,—
All this tact to kindness is.
| Studies of Sensation and Event | |