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Louisa May Alcott - The Rock And The Bubble
Work rating: Medium

Oh! a bare, brown rock
Stood up in the sea,
The waves at its feet
Dancing merrily.

A little bubble
Once came sailing by,
And thus to the rock
Did it gayly cry,—

"Ho! clumsy brown stone,
Quick, make way for me:
I`m the fairest thing
That floats on the sea.

"See my rainbow-robe,
See my crown of light,
My glittering form,
So airy and bright.

"O`er the waters blue,
I`m floating away,
To dance by the shore
With the foam and spray.

"Now, make way, make way;
For the waves are strong, 
And their rippling feet
Bear me fast along."

But the great rock stood
Straight up in the sea:
It looked gravely down,
And said pleasantly—

"Little friend, you must
Go some other way;
For I have not stirred 
this many a long day.

"Great billows have dashed,
And angry winds blown;
But my sturdy form
Is not overthrown.

"Nothing can stir me
In the air or sea;
Then, how can I move,
Little friend, for thee?"

Then the waves all laughed
In their voices sweet;
And the sea-birds looked, 
From their rocky seat,

At the bubble gay,
Who angrily cried,
While its round cheek glowed
With a foolish pride,—

"You SHALL move for me;
And you shall not mock
At the words I say,
You ugly, rough rock.

"Be silent, wild birds!
While stare you so?
Stop laughing, rude waves,
And help me to go!

"For I am the queen
Of the ocean here,
And this cruel stone
Cannot make me fear."

Dashing fiercely up,
With a scornful word,
Foolish Bubble broke;
But Rock never stirred.

Then said the sea-birds, 
Sitting in their nests
To the little ones
Leaning on their breasts,—

"Be not like Bubble,
Headstrong, rude, and vain,
Seeking by violence
Your object to gain;

"But be like the rock, 
Steadfast, true, and strong, 
Yet cheerful and kind,
And firm against wrong.

"Heed, little birdlings,
And wiser you`ll be
For the lesson learned
To-day by the sea."
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