Simple Men

Mighty rivers receive their songs,
and great men are remembered by many
Forest springs are known to few,
and simple men live quiet, unknown, important lives.

Rivers crash to the sea and demand that we come watch them,
and books of famous sit window displayed
Springs wait for those who know where to find them,
and simple men live quiet, unassuming, important lives.

Rivers carry many on their backs,
and there are men with many followers
Springs refresh a few deeply and they are content,
and simple men live quiet, small, important lives.

I do not know great rivers, Nile, Gangies, the Amazon.
They are names on a page, places I will never go.
But I know a spring.
He will have no song, He made no demands, He did not lead many.
He lived an unknown, unassuming, small and important life.
An important life to me.

-Tom Stout (Remembering Dad)


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