"The Cornstalk's Lesson" Poem

This poem may be downloaded and printed
freely by teachers everywhere.

By Mrs Christine Chaplin Brush.

One single grain of corn took root

Beside the garden walk;

"Oh, let it stay," said little May,

"I want it for my stalk."

And there is grew, until the leaves 

Waved in the summer light;

All day it rocked the baby ear,

And wrapped it warm at night.

And then the yellow corn-like silk came--

A skein of silken thread:

It was as pretty as the hair

Upon the baby's head.

Alas! one time, in idle mood,

May pulled the silk away,

And then forgot her treasured stalk

For many a summer day.

At last she said, "I'm sure my corn

Is ripe enough to eat;

In even rows the kernels lie,

All white, and juicy sweet."

Ah me! they all were black and dry,

Were withered long ago;

"What was the naughty corn about,"

She said, "to cheat me so!"

She did not guess the silken threads

Were slender pipes to lead

the food the tasselled blossom shook

To each small kernel's need.

The work her foolish finger wrought

Was shorter than a breath;

Yet every milky kernel then

Began to starve to death!

So, list my little children all,

This simple lesson heed:

That many a grief and sin has come

From one small thoughtless deed.