Poems (Hoffman)/Great Forces
GREAT FORCES
The thunder's roll attends the lightning's play,
Great love is silent and great grief is mute,
Great thoughts have in great acts their perfect fruit;
No flash, no noise, when Purpose marks her way;
The mighty force that midst the stars might flash,
From cloud to cloud in stirring thunder's crash,
Comes down to earth through dust and smoke to move,
In unseen silent usefulness to prove
Her greatness, highest, noblest, grandest when
She bears the humble messages of men.
Great love is silent and great grief is mute,
Great thoughts have in great acts their perfect fruit;
No flash, no noise, when Purpose marks her way;
The mighty force that midst the stars might flash,
From cloud to cloud in stirring thunder's crash,
Comes down to earth through dust and smoke to move,
In unseen silent usefulness to prove
Her greatness, highest, noblest, grandest when
She bears the humble messages of men.