2014-32 David Bates' "Speak gently"
"Speak Gently" was made even more famous by LewisCarroll's parody of it in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. [Ch.6 Pig and Pepper p.26].
Speak gently! -- Love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind;
And gently Friendship's accents flow;
Affection's voice is kind.
Speak gently to the little child!
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild: --
It may not long remain.
Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear --
Pass through this life as best they may,
'T is full of anxious care!
Speak gently to the aged one,
Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart!
Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word!
Speak gently to the erring -- know,
They may have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
Oh, win them back again!
Speak gently! -- He who gave his life
To bend man's stubborn will,
When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them, 'Peace, be still.'
Speak gently! -- 't is a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.
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David Bates' "Speak Gently" Audio [Click Here] 1:49 min
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| David Bates [1809-1870] |
David Bates [1809-1870] was an American poet. He was born at Indian Hill, Ohio, educated in Buffalo and then in a mercantile house in
Indianapolis, Indiana. Eventually he rose in the company to be a full member
and its buyer, and then settled in Philadelphia.
He contributed as
a man of letters to journals and published a volume of poetry, Eolian, in 1849. Two of his poems, "Speak Gently" and "Childhood" have attained a world-wide reputation; while the former of these,
by translation into other languages, has become almost a universal hymn.
"Speak Gently" was made even more famous by LewisCarroll's parody of it in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. [Ch.6 Pig and Pepper p.26].
"Speak Gently" by David Bates
Speak gently! -- It is better far
To rule by love, than fear --
Speak gently -- let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here!
Speak gently! -- It is better far
To rule by love, than fear --
Speak gently -- let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here!
Speak gently! -- Love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind;
And gently Friendship's accents flow;
Affection's voice is kind.
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild: --
It may not long remain.
Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear --
Pass through this life as best they may,
'T is full of anxious care!
Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart!
Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word!
They may have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
Oh, win them back again!
Speak gently! -- He who gave his life
To bend man's stubborn will,
When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them, 'Peace, be still.'
Speak gently! -- 't is a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Bates' "Speak Gently" Audio [Click Here] 1:49 min
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