“If
   All
       the
          Skies”

             Henry
                Van
                  Dyke

                        If
                           all
                              the
                                 skies
                                     were
                                          sunshine,
                                             Our
                                                faces
                                                   would
                                                      be
                                                         faint
                                                            To
                                                               feel
                                                                  once
                                                                     more
                                                                        upon
                                                                           them
                                                                              The
                                                                                  cooling
                                                                                     splash
                                                                                       of
                                                                                          rain.

                                                                                             If
                                                                                                all
                                                                                                   the
                                                                                                      world
                                                                                                         were
                                                                                                            music,
                                                                                                              Our
                                                                                                                 hearts
                                                                                                                    would
                                                                                                                        often
                                                                                                                            long
                                                                                                                                For
                                                                                                                                    one
                                                                                                                                        sweet
                                                                                                                                          strain
                                                                                                                                                of
                                                                                                                                                   silence,
                                                                                                                                                      To
                                                                                                                                                         break
                                                                                                                                                            the
                                                                                                                                                               endless
                                                                                                                                                                  song.

                                                                                                                                                                     If
                                                                                                                                                                        life
                                                                                                                                                                           were
                                                                                                                                                                              always
                                                                                                                                                                                 merry,
                                                                                                                                                                                    Our
                                                                                                                                                                                       souls
                                                                                                                                                                                          would
                                                                                                                                                                                             seek
                                                                                                                                                                                                relief,
                                                                                                                                                                                                   And
                                                                                                                                                                                                      rest
                                                                                                                                                                                                         from
                                                                                                                                                                                                            weary
                                                                                                                                                                                                               laughter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        quiet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           arms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 grief.