The Rose-Colored Glass
By Charles Stewart Pratt
ONCE, when a child, I found somewhere
A piece of clear red glass,
And when I looked through it, it brought
A miracle to pass; The dull old earth and clouded sky
Became most wondrous bright,
And tree and flower and everything
Rejoiced in rosy light. And through the years of later life
Some happy folk I’ve known
Who’d found the magic of the glass
And made it all their own; Some happy folk for whom the sun
Still shone on cloudy days,
For whom the flowers would always spring
Along the stony ways; Brave-hearted folk who yet could smile
When troubles closely crept,
Who ever had a word of cheer
For those who sighed or wept; Dear folk whom it was good to know,
Who made the dull grow bright,
And shed about their way on earth
A rosy heavenly light. And oft I think how good a time
’Twould surely bring to pass
If all of us could look on life
Through their rose-colored glass! — Charles Stewart Pratt, in Housekeeper.