light and shade

hope comes with duller colours and with rain
the steady drizzle soothes the aching heart
we pause and then again we have to start
some matters are best stated clear and plain
each listens to a distant warming strain
seeking to solve all problems by true art
and hit the bullseye each time with the dart
our world's much more than agony and pain
growth happens and we need to train and guide
each shoot to take its proper shining place
in the rich garden of the living mind
not to allow a bright blossom to hide
but lift to the eye its full glowing face
and make much richer all of humankind