For the fledgeling bird-life stilled,
Its wings untaught,
Its music all untrilled;
For the poet’s voiceless thought,
The song unsung;
For the loving heart unsought;
Hope, fair and sweet and young,
Dead-nor forgot;
For the seed that is not sown,
And the bud that falls unblown,
What shall atone?

Somewhere the seed must spring.
The song be sung;
Somewhere, green boughs among,
The bird must sing,
Must brood and build;
Somewhere, the heart be wooed;
Somewhere, far out of pain,
Hope, fair and strong, again
Rise from the tomb.
Somewhere, for God is good,
Life’s blossoms, unfilled,
Must spring from dust and gloom
To perfect bloom.

More verses by Ina D. Coolbrith