It Isn’t the Thing You Do: A Poem

and strong shall come.

IT ISN'T THE THING YOU DO.

It isn't the thing you do, dear,

It's the thing you leave undone That gives you a bit of heartache At the setting of the sun. The tender word forgotten; The letter you did not write; The iiower you did not send, dear, Are your haunting ghosts tonight. The stone you might have lifted Out of a brother's way; The bit of heartsome counsel You were hurried too much to say. The loving touch of the hand, dear, The gentle, winning tone Which you had no time or thought for With trouble enough of your own. These little acts of kindness So easily out of mind, These chances to be angels Which we poor mortals find. It isn't the thing you do, dear,

It's the thing you leave undone Which gives you a bit of a heartache At the setting of the sun. Margaret E. Sangster.