drop

Drop a pebble in the water, just a splash, 

   and it is gone;

But there is half a hundred ripples circling 

   on and on and on, 

Spreading, spreading from the center, 

   flowing on out to sea.

And there is no way of telling where the 

   end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water; in a minute 

   you will forget,

But there are little waves a-flowing and 

   there are ripples circling yet, 

And those little waves a-flowing to a great 

   big wave have grown;

You've disturbed a mighty river just by 

   dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a 

   minute it is gone;

But there are half a hundred ripples circling 

   on and on and on, 

They keep spreading, spreading, spreading

   from the center as they go,

And there is no way to stop them, once 

   you've started the flow.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a 

   flash and it is gone; 

But there are half a hundred ripples circling 

   on and on and on,

Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each 

   splashing, dashing wave,

Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the 

   one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a 

   minute you will forget; 

But there's gladness still a swelling, and 

   there's joy circling yet.

And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose 

   sweet music can be heard,

Over miles and miles of water just by 

   dropping one kind word.

-author unknown