Faith, Nature & Daily Character
More Daniel C. Colesworthy Poems
Featured PoemsThere Is a God
There is a God! His voice is heard
In every whispering breeze,
In every leaf that’s gently stirred
Upon the forest trees.
The whirlwind in its wrath and might,
O’er-sweeping land and sea,
With desolation in its flight,
Tells of a Deity.
The blossoms that betray the spring,
The little birds at play,
The golden birds a-twittering
Throughout the livelong day,
And skies that soft and mild appear,
Whence gentle dews descend,
Tell of a God in lines as clear
As with a sunbeam penned.
The leaves unfolding to the sun,
In Summer’s glorious reign,
Streams flashing diamonds as they run,
Slow winding through the plain,
Or tumbling from a craggy height,
Through groves of Araby,
So pure and musical and bright,
Tell of a Deity.
The golden gifts—brown Autumn’s pride,
That crown the harvest-field,
The treasures that on every side
The rain and sunshine yield,
The bearded sheaves, the bended bough,
All eloquent exclaim,
There is a God! behold him now!
Be thankful at his name!
The hoar-frost, and the feathery snow
That falls so silently,
The ice that stopped the river’s flow,
Which lately dashed so free,
Careering storms and howling winds,
The cold and piercing air,
To hearts devout, uplifted minds,
A God! a God! declare.
There is a God! inscribed I read,
Where’er I turn my eyes:
No less within the mustard-seed
Than on the vaulted skies.
I cannot look below, above,
I cannot gaze abroad,
But wisdom shines and wondrous love—
There is, there is a God!
Overview Short Summary
“There Is a God” follows the seasons and interprets natural change as evidence of divine power and care. Gentle breezes, violent storms, birds, streams, harvests, frost and stars all contribute to the poem’s repeated conclusion.
Interpretation Meaning and Argument from Nature
The poem reads nature as a form of writing. Small and immense objects—the mustard seed and the sky—carry the same spiritual signature. Colesworthy’s argument depends on variety: beauty, danger, abundance and winter still belong to one ordered creation.
Core Ideas Themes
- God in nature: Creation is treated as evidence of divine presence.
- Seasonal change: Spring, summer, autumn and winter each reveal a different quality.
- Wonder: Ordinary natural details invite attention and gratitude.
- Power and love: Storms suggest might, while harvest and beauty suggest care.
Poetic Craft Personification, Seasonal Structure and Imagery
Leaves, crops and weather appear to speak or write, turning the landscape into testimony. Six eight-line stanzas move through the year before widening from the smallest seed to the vaulted sky. Bright visual and sound imagery keeps the religious argument grounded in observation.
Read the Bible
Take the Bible—read the Bible—
’Tis a precious, precious book:
Every day you scorn its message,
Careless on its pages look,
You deprive your souls of pleasure,
Joys which they alone can tell,
Who have found it golden treasure
From the God of Israel.
Read the Bible—love the Bible—
Bind it firmly to the heart;
It will cheer you in your darkness,
And a generous light impart:
When the night of sorrow lengthens,
Friends forsake and peace has flown,
It will chase the gloomy shadows
With a brightness all its own.
Take the Bible—love the Bible—
All its precepts treasure up;
And amid life’s sharpest trials
It will prove the star of hope:
In your pilgrimage ’twill cheer you,
Shade by day and sun by night;
Joy in sorrow, health in sickness,
Peace and pleasure, pure delight.
Read the Bible—love the Bible—
’Tis a gift from God to man;
Every thought is inspiration,
Breathing of redemption’s plan;
And the soul, in darkness groping,
Pointing to a region blest,
Where the wicked cease from troubling
And the weary are at rest.
Read the Bible—love the Bible—
Weary pilgrims, guileless youth;
Listen to its sweet instructions,
Words of wisdom, power, and truth:
Read the Bible—love the Bible—
Sick, in health, at home, abroad;
Every time you read its pages
You are nearer brought to God.
Overview Short Summary
“Read the Bible” urges readers not merely to own scripture, but to read, value and remember it. The Bible is presented as wisdom in ordinary life, light during grief, hope during hardship and guidance for people of different ages and conditions.
Interpretation Meaning and Devotional Message
The poem treats reading as a relationship rather than a one-time task. Repeated reading draws the text closer to the heart and the reader closer to God. Scripture becomes useful because it is returned to during darkness, sickness, loneliness and uncertainty.
Core Ideas Themes
- Scripture: The Bible is described as spiritual treasure and instruction.
- Comfort: Reading offers light during sorrow and abandonment.
- Hope: Biblical teaching becomes a guide through trials.
- Spiritual closeness: Attention to the text strengthens relationship with God.
Poetic Craft Refrain, Light Imagery and Biblical Allusion
Commands to read and love the Bible form a recurring refrain. Darkness, light and a star of hope make guidance visible. The line about the wicked ceasing from trouble and the weary resting echoes the language of Job, linking the poem’s counsel with scripture itself.
A Lesson
I’ll teach thee a lesson:
Be active and wise;
The deeper the valley,
The brighter the skies;
The harder the labor,
More weary the breast,
The sweeter the slumber
When the pillow is pressed.
When the fierce storm approaches,
Unbend to the blast;
Unyielding, look upward,
Till the whirlwind has passed:
The firm and unshaken,
Who never despair,
The seal of true greatness
Forever shall wear.
Overview Short Summary
“A Lesson” argues that difficulty can sharpen appreciation and strengthen character. Hard work makes rest sweeter, valleys make bright skies more noticeable, and storms reveal whether a person can remain firm.
Interpretation Meaning and Life Lesson
The poem does not praise suffering for its own sake. It values the qualities developed while meeting hardship: activity, wisdom, steadiness and refusal to despair. Greatness is measured less by avoiding storms than by maintaining direction during them.
Core Ideas Themes
- Hard work: Effort gives rest and achievement greater meaning.
- Resilience: Adversity tests the ability to remain steady.
- Perspective: Contrast helps people recognize brightness and relief.
- Character: True greatness is shown through conduct under pressure.
Poetic Craft Contrast, Weather Metaphor and Imperatives
Valley and sky, labor and sleep, storm and firmness create a pattern of opposites. Weather becomes a metaphor for hardship. The opening promise to teach and the later commands give the short poem the voice of direct counsel.
Don’t Kill the Birds
Don’t kill the birds—the little birds
That sing about your door,
Soon as the joyous spring has come,
And chilling storms are o’er;
The little birds, how sweet they sing!
O, let them joyous live;
And never seek to take the life
Which you can never give.
Don’t kill the birds—the little birds
That play among the trees;
’T would make the earth a cheerless place,
Should we dispense with these.
The little birds, how fond they play!
Do not disturb their sport;
But let them warble forth their songs,
Till winter cuts them short.
Don’t kill the birds—the happy birds
That bless the field and grove;
So innocent to look upon,
They claim our warmest love.
The happy birds—the tuneful birds,
How pleasant ’tis to see;
No spot can be a cheerless place
Where’er their presence be.
Overview Short Summary
“Don’t Kill the Birds” asks children and adults to protect birds because their lives, songs and play bring joy to homes, trees, fields and groves. Its moral argument is simple: people should not casually destroy life they cannot restore.
Interpretation Meaning and Animal-Kindness Message
The poem combines affection with responsibility. Birds are valuable not only because their songs benefit human listeners, but because they are living creatures with their own play and pleasure. The repeated prohibition turns observation into an ethical rule.
Core Ideas Themes
- Kindness to animals: Birds deserve protection from unnecessary harm.
- Nature and happiness: Birdsong makes familiar places more joyful.
- Responsibility: Human power over smaller creatures should be restrained.
- Children’s moral education: The direct language teaches mercy through a concrete example.
Poetic Craft Refrain, Sound Imagery and Seasonal Setting
Each stanza begins by repeating the title command. Singing, warbling and play create a lively soundscape, while spring and winter frame the birds’ limited season. The simple vocabulary and regular rhythm suit a children’s poem intended to shape behavior.
Daily Trials
How many sorrows daily crowd
The fond and happy breast!
Some thoughtless friend may whisper loud
What should not be expressed.
A harsh reply, perhaps, is made,—
A passionate rebuke,—
When we a pleasant thing have said,
Or others’ words mistook.
For deeds of warmest charity
Reproach may be severe;
And the sweet, pleasant smile may be
Turned to a bitter tear.
The heart that loved us, for a bribe
On us in scorn may turn,
Or vileness so our acts describe,
As none the truth discern.
Such are our trials day by day—
But he is really blest,
Whatever sorrows crowd his way,
Or cares or pains molest—
Who watches o’er his heart with care,
At morning, noon and night,
And lifts to Heaven the fervent prayer
To be directed right.
Overview Short Summary
“Daily Trials” lists the ordinary injuries that disturb relationships: gossip, harsh replies, misunderstandings, unfair criticism and betrayal. The poem’s answer is not retaliation, but careful self-control and prayer for right direction.
Interpretation Meaning and Emotional Discipline
Colesworthy recognizes that pain often comes through people who were trusted. The final stanza shifts attention from controlling others to guarding one’s own heart. Blessing is associated with responding deliberately instead of allowing hurt to determine the next action.
Core Ideas Themes
- Misunderstanding: Words can be misheard or carelessly repeated.
- Betrayal: Affection may be exchanged for advantage or approval.
- Self-control: The speaker values careful response over impulsive anger.
- Prayer: Spiritual guidance supports daily moral choices.
Poetic Craft Examples, Contrast and Final Turn
The poem builds through a sequence of recognizable social injuries before turning with “But.” A pleasant smile becoming a bitter tear captures the sudden movement from trust to hurt. The final quatrain changes the poem from complaint into practical spiritual counsel.
Poet, Books, Attribution & Themes
Daniel C. Colesworthy: Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Daniel C. Colesworthy?
Daniel Clement Colesworthy (1810–1893) was an American printer, bookseller, editor and poet born in Portland, Maine. He published newspapers and books while writing accessible moral, religious, domestic and children’s verse.
What are Daniel C. Colesworthy’s best-known poems?
His most frequently circulated titles include “A Little Word,” “Never Say Fail,” “Try, Keep Trying,” “There Is a God,” “Read the Bible,” “A Smile,” “Don’t Kill the Birds” and “Give Every Day.”
Which Daniel C. Colesworthy poems are about kindness?
“A Little Word” focuses on healing and harmful speech, “A Smile” presents sympathy as a simple gift, and “Give Every Day” expands generosity beyond money. “Benevolence” and “A Thought” develop similar ideas in shorter forms.
Which poems are motivational or inspirational?
“Try, Keep Trying,” “Never Say Fail” and “A Lesson” are his clearest perseverance poems. They address repeated effort, resilience, hard work and the refusal to let discouragement become permanent.
Which Daniel C. Colesworthy poems are Christian poems?
“There Is a God” finds divine evidence in nature, “Read the Bible” presents scripture as guidance and comfort, and “Daily Trials” ends with prayer for right direction. Other religious titles include “Look Above,” “Humble Heart” and “Nature Full of God.”
Did Daniel C. Colesworthy write Little Things?
No. The famous poem beginning with “Little drops of water” is accepted as the work of Julia A. Carney. Historical publications sometimes misattributed it to Colesworthy, so it should not be included among his verified poems.
What poetry books did Daniel C. Colesworthy publish?
His documented poetry titles include Sabbath School Hymns, Opening Buds, A Group of Children, The Year and School Is Out. His shorter poems also circulated widely through newspapers, hymnals and school readers.
Did Daniel C. Colesworthy write a New Year poem?
Yes. “The New Year” is included in modern Colesworthy collections and reflects on living well before life’s course is finished. Because its search demand is seasonal and lower than the main selections, it is noted here instead of receiving a full repeated section.
Are Daniel C. Colesworthy’s poems public domain?
Yes. Colesworthy died in 1893, and the poems on this page were published in the nineteenth century. The texts are public-domain works; modern website introductions and explanations remain separate copyrighted material and were not copied.
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