“Rejoice,” said the Sun; "I will make thee gay
With glory and gladness and holiday;
I am dumb, O man, and need thy voice!”
But man would not rejoice.

Rejoice in thyself, said he, “O sun,
For thy daily course is a lordly one;
In thy lofty place rejoice if thou can:
For me, I am only a man.”

"Rejoice,” said the Wind; "I am free and strong.
And will wake in thy heart an ancient song;
Hear the roaring woods, my organ noise!”
But man would not rejoice.

"Rejoice, O Wind, in thy strength,” said he,
“For thou fulfillest thy destiny;
Shake the forest, the faint flowers fan;
For me, I am only a man.”

"Rejoice,” said the Night, “with moon and star,
For the Sun and Wind are gone afar;
I am here with rest and dreaming choice!”
But man would not rejoice;

For he said - “What is rest to me, I Pray,
Whose labor leads to no gladsome day?
He only can dream who has hope behind:
Alas for me and my kind!”

Then a voice that came not from moon or star,
From, the sun, or the wind that roved afar,
Said, “Man, I am with thee-hear my voice!”
-And man said, "I rejoice.”


— George MacDonald

Hope Joy The Good Father George MacDonald Poem The Reason