The fair was on before the temple.
It had rained from the early morning
and the day came to its end.
Brighter than all the gladness of
the crowd was the bright smile of
a girl who bought for a farthing a
whistle of palm leaf.
The shrill joy of that whistle floated
above all laughter and noise.
An endless throng of people came
and jostled together. The road was
muddy, the river in flood, the field
under water in ceaseless rain.
Greater than all the troubles of
the crowd was a little boy's trouble--
he had not a farthing to buy a painted
stick.
His wistful eyes gazing at the shop
made this whole meeting of men so
pitiful.
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Comments1I JUST LOVE THIS POEM SO MUCH! THE WAY IT DESCRIBES THE GIRL'S JOY WHEN BUYING A SIMPLE PALM LEAF WHISTLE FOR ONLY A FARTHING. IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL DESCRIPTION OF PURE HAPPINESS IN A SIMPLE MOMENT. AND THE CONTRAST WITH THE LITTLE BOY'S SADNESS BECAUSE HE COULDN'T BUY A PAINTED STICK, IT REALLY GETS TO THE HEART. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND TOUCHING!