I remember a poem about a man who came into town and always saw this old man sitting on the square. He never spoke to him although he intended to. Then one day the man wasn't there and he found out that he had died. He regretted not having talked to the man-the moral being-say kind things to people when you can-don't let the opportunity pass you by. Any poem that gets this point across will help.
I believe the poem you want is by A. B. "Banjo" Paterson
- I just can't remember the words now.
...
I shall pass through this world but once;
any good thing therefore that I can do,
or any kindness that I can show to any human being
let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it,
for I shall not pass this way again.
Stephen Grellet 1773-1855 French-born Quaker Minister
or turned into a poem :
Through this toilsome world, alas,
Once and only once I pass,
If a good deed I may do,
If a kindness I may show
To a suffering fellow man,
Let me do it while I can,
No delay for it is plain
I shall not pass this way again.
Thank you so much! I am trying to get the point across to a ninth grade class that I substitute for (I'm a retired teacher) the importance of saying kind things while they have the chance and not putting it off. I have really connected with this particular class and I think they would appreciate what you have given me. Thanks!
I do hope that is what you want ...
.
Do it now
by Berton Braley
If with pleasure you are viewing
any work a man is doing,
If you like him or you love him,
tell him now;
Don't withhold your approbation
till the parson makes oration
And he lies with snowy lilies on his brow;
No matter how you shout it
he won't really care about it;
He won't know how many teardrops you have shed;
If you think some praise is due him
now's the time to slip it to him,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead.
More than fame and more than money
is the comment kind and sunny
And the hearty, warm approval of a friend.
For it gives to life a savor,
and it makes you stronger, braver,
And it gives you heart and spirit to the end;
If he earns your praise - bestow it,
if you like him let him know it,
Let the words of true encouragement be said;
Do not wait till life is over
and he's underneath the clover,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead.
Hurry !
Robert Dennis
It's funny how a good resolve
So often just collapses,
If it's not put into effect
Before much time elapses.
.......................................
Something Good About You
Wouldn't this old world be better
If the folks we meet would say -
"I know something good about you!"
And treat us just that way?
Wouldn't it be fine and dandy
If each handclasp, fond and true,
Carried with it this assurance -
"I know something good about you!"
Wouldn't life be lots more happy
If the good that's in all of us
Were the only thing about us
That folks bothered to recall?
Wouldn't life be lots more happy
If we praised the good we see?
For there's such a lot of goodness
In the worst of you and me!
Wouldn't it be nice to practice
That fine way of thinking, too?
You know something good about me,
I know something good about you?
Louis C. Shimon