Pages

Sunday 10 August 2014

DAVID BATES' "SPEAK GENTLY"

2014-32  David Bates' "Speak gently"

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"  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! -- 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. 


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Bates' "Speak Gently" Audio [Click Here] 1:49 min




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No comments:

Post a Comment