Poetry Meme

[crazyparakiss]

I shall join the sheep and post a few poems as I look through some of the ones I have collected in a notebook over the years. This one By Margaret E. Sangster reminds me of a poem I wrote for my grandfather when he died, although hers is much, much better. Yet both are full of regret for things not done, of things we wish we could change.

The Sin Of Omission

It isn't the thing you do;
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.

The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent,
Are your haunting ghosts tonight.

The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother's way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were too hurried too much to say.

The loving touch of the hand,
The gentle and winsome tone,
That you had no time or thought for
With troubles enough of your own.

The little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind;
Those chances to be helpful
Which everyone may find-

No, it's not the thing you do,
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting sun.