If you throw a rock into a lake on a calm morning, the ripple will go on and on across the water and may even rebound off the far shore and return to meet itself. An infectious smile can do much the same thing rippling from person to person over time and place, lightening the mood of every one it encounters.
The lonely wail of a northeast wind, rattles rooftops then is gone;
But the subtle sound of spring rain as it dances on the lawn;
Or the echoed rolls of thunder through the hollow,
Go on and on.
The final flash of a dying star passes never to be seen again;
But the evening light of summer night through forests dipped in rain;
Or the ocean waves that stroll upon the shallow,
Go on and on.
It’s the quiet gem that lingers, not the glitter, not the gong,
A gentle smile can last beyond our knowing.
Each blossom and each daybreak brings a hope that lingers on,
An ember in the hearth that’s softly glowing.
The mystic flow of poem or song may ease an aching heart.
The master’s use of color can enhance one’s love of art;
But the ripple of a smile that conquers sorrow,
Goes on and on and on.*
*”The Ripple of a Smile” by Ledyard Campbell
@ Ledyard Campbell LLC all rights reserved February 2021