I asked the rock beside the road what joy existence lent.
It answered,‘ For a million years my heart has been content.’
I asked the truffle-seeking swine, as rooting by he went,
‘ What is the keynote of your life?’ He grunted out,‘ Content.’
I asked a slave, who toiled and sung, just what his singing meant.
He plodded on his changeless way, and said,‘ I am content.’
I asked a plutocrat of greed, on what his thoughts were bent.
He chinked the silver in his purse, and said,‘ I am content.’
I asked the mighty forest tree from whence its force was sent.
Its thousand branches spoke as one, and said,‘ From discontent.’
I asked the message speeding on, by what great law was rent
God's secret from the waves of space. It said,‘ From discontent.’
I asked the marble, where the works of God and man were blent,
What brought the statue from the block. It answered,‘ Discontent.’