Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
The Voice of the Grass
By Sarah Roberts (18121869)H
By the dusty roadside,
On the sunny hill-side,
Close by the noisy brook,
In every shady nook,
I come creeping, creeping everywhere.
All around the open door,
Where sit the aged poor;
Here where the children play,
In the bright and merry May,
I come creeping, creeping everywhere.
In the noisy city street
My pleasant face you’ll meet,
Cheering the sick at heart
Toiling his busy part—
Silently creeping, creeping everywhere.
You cannot see me coming,
Nor hear my low sweet humming;
For in the starry night,
And the glad morning light,
I come quietly creeping everywhere.
More welcome than the flowers
In summer’s pleasant hours:
The gentle cow is glad,
And the merry bird not sad,
To see me creeping, creeping everywhere.
When you’re numbered with the dead
In your still and narrow bed,
In the happy Spring I’ll come
And deck your silent home—
Creeping, silently creeping everywhere.
My humble song of praise
Most joyfully I raise
To Him at whose command
I beautify the land,
Creeping, silently creeping everywhere.