The Spur by Ella Wheeler Wilcox — Read

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. '