A Tender Heart Poem by Susan Evance

A TENDER heart- O what a treasure
O what a source of varied pleasure!
A gentle word- a smile- a glance-
Can bid with joy the Spirits dance;
Nature in her minutest scene,
Her flow'rs, her moss, her turfy green,
Has pow'r to spread enchantment near,
And bid delight in ev'ry thing appear.

A tender heart! - O cause of sadness!
Of wild despair- of raving madness!
An unkind word- a look- a frown-
Can sink the yielding spirits down;
And when no real ill appears,
Oft fancy fills the eyes with tears;
Spreads shadows dark on all around,
And bids distress in ev'ry thing be found.

He then, in waters calm, appearing,
Who far from transport's waves is steering,
Should prize the blessing of repose,
Nor wish th' extremes that feeling knows,
And let the thought of past delight,
And hope of future seasons bright,
Console and soothe beneath distress
The lonely drooping child of tenderness.