O GIVE TO ME THE SIMPLE LAY THAT LINGERS WITH ONE ALL THE DAY

A

SWEET REFRAIN THAT SOOTHES AND CHEERS

AND HELPS THE HEART FORGET ITS FEARS.

THE SIMPLE SONG FOR COMMON FOLK

SO OFTEN BOWED BENEATH THE YOKE

OF MANY BURDENS WHICH ACCRUE

TO THESE A SONG IS AS THE DEW.

THE WORLD IS LARGELY FILLED, WE FIND,

WITH JUST THE ORDINARY MIND:

THE SIMPLE LAY MUST HAVE ITS PLACE,

SO YIELD IT, POET, WITH A GRACE.

-ISABELLE TALLMAN.