Let Us Be Kind, poem by W. Lomax Childress

I got the yearly Christmas letter from a retired Presbyterian minister today. In it, he mentions a poem that was taught to his sister by Miss Ruth Stuttaford at the Chatsworth Continuation School.  I found it in a free book called Poems Teachers Ask For, Book Two (available from Project Gutenberg).  I was telling my IP10/20/30 class today that it's going to be a tougher world for them than it is for me.  I referred them to the recent Maclean's article - Generation Screwed Cover Story.  I would think we need more of this:


Let Us Be Kind
  Let us be kind;
The way is long and lonely,
And human hearts are asking for this blessing only--
  That we be kind.
We cannot know the grief that men may borrow,
We cannot see the souls storm-swept by sorrow,
But love can shine upon the way to-day, to-morrow--
  Let us be kind.

  Let us be kind;
This is a wealth that has no measure,
This is of Heaven and earth the highest treasure--
  Let us be kind.
A tender word, a smile of love in meeting,
A song of hope and victory to those retreating,
A glimpse of God and brotherhood while life is fleeting--
  Let us be kind.

  Let us be kind;
Around the world the tears of time are falling,
And for the loved and lost these human hearts are calling--
  Let us be kind.
To age and youth let gracious words be spoken;
Upon the wheel of pain so many lives are broken,
We live in vain who give no tender token--
  Let us be kind.

  Let us be kind;
The sunset tints will soon be in the west,
Too late the flowers are laid then on the quiet breast--
  Let us be kind.
And when the angel guides have sought and found us,
Their hands shall link the broken ties of earth that bound us,
And Heaven and home shall brighten all around us--
  Let us be kind.

    _W. Lomax Childress._