Poems (Curwen)/If!

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If!
If all the precious time that's spent  In idle gossiping was given To cultivating charity,  Earth would be more like heaven.
If only people would think twice  Before they launch their poisoned darts, There would not be so many wounds  Now rankling in sore hearts.
If only folk would be quite sure  That what they hear is really true, Before they help to spread a tale,  There would be less to rue.
How much of sorrow, shame, and pain,  Of bitterness and cruel wrong, Would ne'er have been, if some had kept  A bridle on their tongue.
But sad to say, the cark and care  Of life is aggravated by The silly tongues that aye will wag  From want of thought—maliciously.
Ah! if these gossips would but think  How soon this life of ours must cease, They would not seek to stir up strife,  They'd sow the seeds of peace.
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