Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Nov. 5, 1850 - Oct. 30, 1919

 

Discontent

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The splendid discontent of God
With chaos, made the world,
Set suns in place, and filled all space
With stars that shone and whirled.

If apes had been content with tails,
No thing of higher shape
Had come to birth: the king of earth
To-day would be an ape.

And from the discontent of man
The world's best progress springs.
Then feed the flame -- (from God it came) --
Until you mount on wings.

Source:

Poems of Pleasure
Copyright 1900
Gay And Bird, 22 Bedford Street, Strand, London