The Spur
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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.'
I asked an Angel, looking down on earth with gaze intent,
How man should rise to larger growth.Quoth he, 'Through discontent.'