just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half a hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center,
flowing on out to sea.
And there is no way of telling
where the end is going to be.
in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing
to a great big wave half grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river
just by dropping in a stone.
in a minute it is gone;
But there's half a million ripples
circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading
from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them,
once you've started them to flow.
in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart
a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a happy life
when you dropped that unkind word.
just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half a hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort
on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volumn
of the one kind word you gave.
in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling,
and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort
whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water
just by dropping one kind word.
Nancy Sue
