-What is the real good?'
I asked in musing mood.
Order, said the law court;
Knowledge, said the school;
Truth, said the wise man;
Pleasure, said the fool;
Love, said the maiden;
Beauty, said the page;
Freedom, said the dreamer;
Home, said the sage;
Fame, said the soldier;
Equity, the seer;-
Spake my heart full sadly:
'The answer is not here.'
Then within my bosom
Softly this I heard:
'Each heart holds the secret:
Kindness is the word.'
What Is Good
John Boyle O'reilly
(4)
Poem topics: beauty, freedom, home, school, soldier, truth, pleasure, kindness, good, wise, real, answer, knowledge, mood, fool, secret, order, heart, love, I love you, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about What Is Good poem by John Boyle O'reilly
Robbi: I remember learning this poem while in elementary school and haven't really thought about it in years, but in the middle of last night I woke up and couldn't get it out of my head so had to check Google to see if I could find it.
I must say 75 years later it is still my favourite!
nathan: its good
Best Poems of John Boyle O'reilly