a true vocabulary

the words that give life meaning are not long
the vocables of normal congress all quite short
words such as hope or peace or of a meaner sort
like hate or fight all measure well for song
or make things clear words like right or wrong
are perfect and direct we accept the report
and judgments given gravely in life's court
cannot include only those which are strong
but must allow each carefully to speak
of those things which we all know will matter
before the dimming of each little fire
none but the soft the yielding and the weak
can bend in time always the mighty shatter
and all the time we listen for the lyre