THE SPUR

I asked the rock beside the road what joy existence lent.

It answered,‘ For a million years my heart has been content.’

I asked the truffle-seeking swine, as rooting by he went,

‘ What is the keynote of your life?’ He grunted out,‘ Content.’

I asked a slave, who toiled and sung, just what his singing meant.

He plodded on his changeless way, and said,‘ I am content.’

I asked a plutocrat of greed, on what his thoughts were bent.

He chinked the silver in his purse, and said,‘ I am content.’

I asked the mighty forest tree from whence its force was sent.

Its thousand branches spoke as one, and said,‘ From discontent.’

I asked the message speeding on, by what great law was rent

God's secret from the waves of space. It said,‘ From discontent.’

I asked the marble, where the works of God and man were blent,

What brought the statue from the block. It answered,‘ Discontent.’