4565364Poems — Harps and HeartsAnnie Lanman Angier
HARPS AND HEARTS.
There are harps in our breasts
Of most delicate make,
And many the tones which are heard;
Now plaintive, now gay,
Now so soft is their lay.
The notes seem like those of a bird.

These harps God has tuned.
Though broken they seem,
They respond to their Maker's command;
And mortals, too, play them,
Words, deeds, and looks sway them,
A breath hath these instruments fanned.

Our hearts are these harps—
How sweet are their strains
When sympathy touches the chords;
Then such melody's given,
'Tis echoed in heaven,
Though whispered on earth are the words.

Then strike these harps daily,
By deed, look, and word;
Hearts around us are sighing for aid;
And since some are sad,
Whom a word can make glad,
Say, shall not the kind word be said?

Though countless the stars,
Heart-harps are not less,
They are playing below and above;
But wherever they be,
They have one master-key—
And the name of that one key is love.