It isn't the thing you do, dear,
It's the thing you leave undone
That gives you a bit of a heartache
At setting of the sun.
The tender work forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flowers you did not send, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts at night.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother's way;
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle, winning tone
Which you had no time nor thought for
With troubles enough of your own.
Those little acts of kindness
So easily out of mind,
Those chances to be angels
Which we poor mortals find -
They come in night and silence,
Each sad, reproachful wraith,
When hope is faint and flagging,
And a chill has fallen on faith.
For life is all too short, dear,
And sorrow is all to great,
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late:
And it isn't the thing you do, dear,
It's the thing you leave undone
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
It seems more beautiful after ages! It is a reminder that we have to seize the day and seize the hour in extending kindness to people. Thanks to the author of such a beautiful poem.
HOW I LOVE THIS POEM WHICH I LEARNED AND MEMORIZE BY HEART SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. iT REMAINS ALIVE IN MY MIND AND HEART AND IT IS ONE OF THE ABIDING THOUGHTS THAT REMINDS ME WHEN I HAVE LEFT SOMETHING UNDONE OR NEGLECTED. .
I AGREE AND FEEL THE SAME. THIS IS ONE POEM I'LL NEVER FORGET. NOW AS I MELLOW WITH AGE THE MESSAGE OF THE POEM IS CLEARER AND DEEPER SINCE I LEARNED IT SOME FIFTY THREE YEARS BACK..
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
The Sin of Omission is worded differently in Poems That Touch the Heart compiled by A. L. Alexander. No 'dear' and 'The flower you might have sent.' 'These chances to be helpful' 'word' not work forgotten etc