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In this article, we are going to share with you lots of poems about kindness. Being compassionate is ingrained in you, something you do without really realizing it.
More kindness is needed in our society, and imagine how wonderful it would have been if people were much more giving, caring, tolerant, and kind.
The 13th of November is World Compassion Day, which encourages the notion of kindness to others and strengthens the power of compassion in society. Share one of these poems about kindness with others to inform them of how kindness can make an impact in the community.
Every day, simple acts of kindness can be performed. It might be as easy as holding the door open, greeting someone, smiling, or saying something nice. It might be a telephone conversation to a lonely person. Sharing these kindness poems with your loved ones is one of these methods.
By simply being kind to others, you may exhibit and share kindness and generosity in a variety of ways. Poems about kindness will help you spread more compassion in your life, and it will return back to you.
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Best Poems about Kindness
Kindness has its own radiance—a contagious energy that makes others stop and look. The beauty that blooms in our souls when we open ourselves up to empathy and turn up for the individuals around us is captured in these best poems about kindness.
1. Kindness
by Peter Burn
Show kindness to others!
Treat all men as brothers,
Whatever their station, whatever betide;
All envy disdaining,
A failing discerning,
Seek not to uncover, but rather to hide.
Speak kindly to other,
And wealth shall be yours,
The magic of story still lives in kind words;
Let them be spoken,
And hearts will fly open—
Kind words are ever more mighty than swords.
2. Sonnet 152
by William Shakespeare
In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn,
But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing;
In act thy bed-vow broke, and new faith torn,
In vowing new hate after new love bearing:
But why of two oaths’ breach do I accuse thee,
When I break twenty? I am perjured most;
For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee,
And all my honest faith in thee is lost:
For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,
Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy;
And, to enlighten thee, gave eyes to blindness,
Or made them swear against the thing they see;
For I have sworn thee fair; more perjured eye,
To swear against the truth so foul a lie!
3. Is This Thy Kindness to Thy Friend
by John Newton
Poor, weak and worthless though I am
I have a rich almighty friend;
Jesus, the Saviour, is His Name;
He freely loves, and without end.
He ransomed me from hell with blood,
And by His pow’r my foes controlled;
He found me wand’ring far from God,
And brought me to His chosen fold.
He cheers my heart, my wants supplies,
And says that I shall shortly be,
Enthroned with Him above the skies;
O what a friend is Christ to me!
But ah! I my inmost spirit mourns,
And well my eyes with tears may swim,
To think of my perverse returns;
I’ve been a faithless friend to him.
Often my gracious Friend I grieve,
Neglect, distrust, and disobey,
And often Satan’s lies believe,
Sooner than all my Friend can say.
He bids me always freely come,
And promises whate’er I ask:
But I am straitened, cold and dumb,
And count my privilege a task.
Before the world that hates his course,
My treach’rous heart has throbbed with shame;
Loth to forego the worlds applause,
I hardly dare avow his name.
Sure were not I most vile and base,
I could not thus my friend requite!
And were not he the God of grace,
He’d frown and spurn me from his sight.
4. Be Kind to Each Other
by Charles Swain
Be kind to each other—
The night’s coming on,
When friend and when brother
Perchance may be gone—
Then ‘midst our dejection
How sweet to have earned
The blest recollection
Of kindness—returned!—
When day has departed,
And Memory keeps
Her watch, broken hearted,
Where all she loved sleeps!—
Let falsehood assail not,
Nor envy disprove,—
Let trifles prevail not
Against those you love—
Nor change with to-morrow
Should fortune take wing;
But the deeper the sorrow
The closer still cling—
Oh, be kind to each other!—
The night’s coming on,
When friend and when brother
Perchance may be gone!
5. Speak Kindly
by Kate Slaughter McKinney
Speak kindly in the morning,
When you are leaving home,
And give the day a lighter heart
Into the week to roam.
Leave kind words as mementoes
To be handled and caressed,
And watch the noon-time hour arrive
In gold and tinsel dressed.
Speak kindly in the evening!
When on the walk is heard
A tired footstep that you know,
Speak one refreshing word,
And see the glad light springing
From the heart into the eye,
As sometimes from behind a cloud
A star leaps to the sky.
Speak kindly to the children
That crowd around your chair,
The tender lips that lean on yours
Kiss, smooth the flaxen hair;
Some day a room that’s lonesome
The little ones may own,
And home be empty as the nest
From which the birds have flown.
Speak kindly to the stranger
Who passes through the town,
A loving word is light of weight—
Not so would prove a frown.
One is a precious jewel
The heart would grasp in sleep,
The other like a demon’s gift
The memory loathes to keep.
Speak kindly to the sorrowful
Who stand beside the dead,
The heart can lean against a word
Though thorny seems the bed.
And oh, to those discouraged
Who faint upon the way,
Stop, stop—if just a moment—
And something kindly say.
Speak kindly to the fallen ones,
Your voice may help them rise;
A word right-spoken oft unclasps
The gate beyond the skies.
Speak kindly, and the future
You’ll find God looking through!
Speak of another as you’d have
Him always speak of you.
6. Kindness Is A Currency
by Kevin Patrick
Kindness is a currency
That is always more worthy
Then all the weight of gold
In all the world combined
Kindness does not depreciate
It grows with gains in interest
And it especially appreciates
To those who need it most
Kindness can make a poor man rich
And a rich man poor
In simple acts of compassion
Are not in his souls pours
There is no greater wealth then kindness
Where humanities futures fortunes are sowed
7. Kindness
by Anonymous
Would you soon disdain a foe —
Purge away his blindness?
Do not give him blow for blow;
Melt his heart with kindness!
Searching out his want and will,
Sympathy so touches,
Gently as the drops distill
Ere the spring outgushes!
Let him find you manly, kind,
Fighting wrong, and ever
Serving all with, heart and mind —
God crowns best endeavor.
8. Little Acts of Kindness
by Anonymous
Little acts of kindness
Trifling though they are,
How they serve to brighten
This dark world of care!
Little acts of kindness,
Oh, how potent they,
To dispel the shadows
Of life’s cloudy day!
Little acts of kindness,
How they cheer the heart!
What a world of gladness,
Will a smile impart!
How a gentle accent
Calms the troubled soul,
When the waves of passion
O’er it wildly roll!
You may have around you
Sunshine if you will,
Or a host of shadows,
Gloomy, dreary, chill.
If you want the sunshine,
Smile, though sad at heart;
To the poor and needy
Kindly aid impart.
To the soul-despairing
Breathe a hopeful word;
From your lips be only
Tones of kindness heard.
Even give for anger
Love and tenderness;
And in blessing others
You yourself will bless.
Little acts of kindness,
Nothing do they cost;
Yet, when they are wanting,
Life’s best charm is lost.
Little acts of kindness,
Richest gems of earth,
Though they seem but trifles,
Priceless is their worth.
Famous Poems about Kindness
When we take time to listen to one another—when we exhibit forgiveness, compassion, tolerance, and generosity to one another—we teach people that small acts of kindness may be the rays of light we need while we fight our own darkness. Here are some famous poems about kindness that you may like.
1. Deeds of Kindness
by Epes Sargent
Suppose the little Cowslip
Should hang its golden cup
And say, “I’m such a little flower
I’d better not grow up!”
How many a weary traveller
Would miss its fragrant smell,
How many a little child would grieve
To lose it from the dell!
Suppose the glistening Dewdrop
Upon the grass should say,
“What can a little dewdrop do?
I’d better roll away!”
The blade on which it rested,
Before the day was done,
Without a drop to moisten it,
Would wither in the sun.
Suppose the little Breezes,
Upon a summer’s day,
Should think themselves too small to cool
The traveller on his way:
Who would not miss the smallest
And softest ones that blow,
And think they made a great mistake
If they were acting so?
How many deed of kindness
A little child can do,
Although it has but little strength
And little wisdom too!
It wants a loving spirit
Much more than strength, to prove
How many things a child may do
For others by its love.
2. Kind Hearts
by Anonymous
Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the blossoms,
Kind deeds are the fruits;
Love is the sweet sunshine
That warms into life,
For only in darkness
Grow hatred and strife.
3. Speak One Kind Word
by Colfax Burgoyne Harman
Speak one kind word to me, dear love
One soft kind word when we are ‘lone.
Pause one sweet moment, precious dove,
And warm a heart, as cold as stone.
Speak one kind word.
Speak one kind word. Those tender eyes
Give solace sweet when thou art near,
But in that hallowed voice there lies
A pathos rich, profound and dear.
Speak one kind word.
Speak one kind word, dear, precious love,
One soft, kind word in tender tone,
It brings a blessing from above,
And cheers a life which is so lone.
Speak one kind word.
4. Our Duty
by Richard Lynott O’Malley
O disconsolate man, why fret and complain
That no use was thy birth, that thy life hath been vain?
Bear in mind, every mortal that ever draws breath
Has a duty assigned to fulfill before death;
And thou hast thine own, be it great, be it small,
And perhaps unaware thou art true to it all.
Hast thou e’er helped a bosom to banish distress?
Hast thou e’er helped a heart into happiness?
Hast thou played with the children, and taught them to play?
Hast thou prayed with the children, and taught them to pray?
Hast thou smiled on the good? hast thou frowned upon sin?
Hast thy heart felt the glow of true kindness within?
Ay, thy duty is such; yet it may be well done
By a tear and kind word for the desolate one;
Yea, e’en but one sigh for a mortal in pain
Were enough to convince that thy life is not vain.
5. Let Us Be Kind
by W. Lomax Childress
Let us be kind;
The way is long and lonely,
And human hearts are asking for this blessing only—
That we be kind.
We cannot know the grief that men may borrow,
We cannot see the souls storm-swept by sorrow,
But love can shine upon the way to-day, to-morrow—
Let us be kind.
Let us be kind;
This is a wealth that has no measure,
This is of Heaven and earth the highest treasure—
Let us be kind.
A tender word, a smile of love in meeting,
A song of hope and victory to those retreating,
A glimpse of God and brotherhood while life is fleeting—
Let us be kind.
Let us be kind;
Around the world the tears of time are falling,
And for the loved and lost these human hearts are calling—
Let us be kind.
To age and youth let gracious words be spoken;
Upon the wheel of pain so many lives are broken,
We live in vain who give no tender token—
Let us be kind.
Let us be kind;
The sunset tints will soon be in the west,
Too late the flowers are laid then on the quiet breast—
Let us be kind.
And when the angel guides have sought and found us,
Their hands shall link the broken ties of earth that bound us,
And Heaven and home shall brighten all around us—
Let us be kind.
6. Be Kind
by Margaret Courtney
Be kind to thy father — for when thou wert young,
Who loved thee so fondly as he?
He caught the first accents that fell from thy tongue,
And joined in thine innocent glee.
Be kind to thy father, for now he is old,
His locks intermingled with grey,
His footsteps are feeble, once fearless and bold;
Thy father is passing away.
Be kind to thy mother — for lo! on her brow
May traces of sorrow be seen,
O, well mayest thou cherish and comfort her now,
For loving and kind hath she been.
Remember thy mother — for thee will she pray,
As long as God giveth her breath,
With accents of kindness, then cheer her lone way,
E’en to the dark valley of death.
Be kind to thy brother — his heart will have dearth,
If the smile of thy love be withdrawn;
The flowers of feeling will fade at their birth,
If the dew of affection be gone.
Be kind to thy brother — wherever you are,
The love of a brother shall be
An ornament purer and richer by far,
Than pearls from the depths of the sea.
Be kind to thy sister — not many may know
The depth of true sisterly love;
The wealth of the Ocean lies fathoms below
The surface that sparkles above.
Thy kindness shall bring to thee many sweet hours,
And blessing thy pathway to crown;
Affection shall weave thee a garland of flowers,
More precious than wealth or renown.
7. Scatter Seeds
by Sister Dora {Dorothy Wyndlow Pattison)
Let the world be better, brighter,
For your having trod its way;
Let your light be seen afar,
Ere sinks down life’s little day.
Scatter seeds of love and kindness
As you tread the heavenward road;
You will find them all again
In the paradise of God.
8. Wishing
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Do you wish the world were better?
Let me tell you what to do –
Set a watch upon your actions:
Keep them always straight and true,
Bid your mind of selfish motives;
Let your thoughts be clean and high;
You can make a little Eden
Of the sphere you occupy.
Do you wish the world to be wiser?
Well, suppose you make a start
By accumulating wisdom
In the scrap-book of your heart.
Do not waste one page in folly;
Live to learn and learn to live;
If you want to increase knowledge.
You must get ere you can give.
Do you wish the world were better?
Then remember day by day
Just to sow the seeds of kindness
As you pass along the way.
For the pleasure of the many
May be ofttimes traced to one.
As the hand that plants the acorn
Shelters armies from the sun.
Short Poems about Kindness
Short poems about kindness serve as a gentle reminder to value life-changing sympathy and care for others. It’s not always simple to choose kindness, but it’s a practice that heals every heart it crosses, including your own.
Let us all take the opportunity today to choose kindness by reading these short kindness poems and spreading compassion to those around us.
1. Perseverance
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
We must not hope to be mowers,
And to gather the ripe gold ears,
Unless we have first been sowers
And watered the furrows with tears.
It is not just as we take it,
This mystical world of ours,
Life’s field will yield as we make it
A harvest of thorns or of flowers.
2. Kindness
by Colfax Burgoyne Harman
Who has a kind and humble heart
Has greater gift bestown
Than wealth obtained at honor’s mart
Or power upon the throne.
The weary stranger, hungry, cold,
With thoughtful, low-bowed head,
Is turned from mansions rich in gold
And from the cottage fed.
3. True Happiness
by Richard Lynott O’Malley
Be happy, be happy, I bid the sad mind,
But learn what true happiness is:
When a dutiful man has a heart good and kind,
True happiness surely is his.
4. Live for Something
by Chalmers
Live for something.
Do good and leave behind you
A monument of virtue that
The storm of time can never destroy.
Write your name in kindness, love and mercy
On the hearts of thousands you come in
Contact with, year by year. . . .
Good deeds will shine
As the stars of heaven.
5. Kindness Returned
by Emily Page Webb
As streams flowing down from the mountains,
By windings no mortal can wist,
Appear to return to their fountains
At sunset, in rainbows of mist;
So often, some deed of affection,
In youth, more tender than wise,
Passed away from our own recollection,
Returns in some loving disguise.
6. It Is Much
by Anonymous
A heart-felt smile, a gentle tone,
A thoughtful word, a tender touch,
A passing act of kindness done, –
‘Tis all, but it is much.
These are not things to win applause,
No earthly fame awaiteth such;
But surely by the heavenly law.
7. Kindness
by Kate Buxbaum-Prado
Kindness planted in the soil,
Of another with a need…
Will one day blossom back to you,
A product of this spirit seed.
8. Loving Kindness
by Martha S. Lippincott
How can we ease another’s pain
Their sorrows e’er dispel?
When they are sore depressed with gloom,
How can we break the spell,
And make their sad lives brighter seem,
By driving grief away?
‘Tis only loving kindness can.
Ah! love will find a way.
Small Poems about Kindness
It’s easy to become relaxed and confident in your life, failing to notice the additional efforts that others make to speak a nice word or to provide those praises yourself.
You never know when somebody might benefit from a nice remark or even a poem. So that’s why we have come up with these small kindness poems.
1. Kindness
by Beverly F. Walker
Every drop of kindness
That you give away,
Returns to you to bless your life one day!
2. The Heartening
by Winifred Webb
It may be that the words I spoke
To cheer him on his way,
To him were vain, but I myself
Was braver all that day.
3. Kindness and Honesty
by Juanita Roach
Kindness helps make you loving and good,
Kindness helps make you do what you should.
Honesty helps make you what you should be,
From the time you’re a baby until eternity.
And if you are both honest and kind,
You’ll be welcomed and loved most all of the time.
4. Little
by Frederic W. Farrar
Little self-denials, little honesties,
little passing words of sympathy,
little nameless acts of kindness,
little silent victories over favorite temptations, –
these are the silent threads of gold which,
when woven together,
gleam out so brightly in
the pattern of life that God approves.
5. Being Kind
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
So many gods, so many creeds
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs.
6. How Great My Grief
by Thomas Hardy
How great my grief, my joys how few,
Since first it was my fate to know thee!
– Have the slow years not brought to view
How great my grief, my joys how few,
Nor memory shaped old times anew,
Nor loving-kindness helped to show thee
How great my grief, my joys how few,
Since first it was my fate to know thee?
7. Little Things
by Anonymous
A cup of water timely brought,
An offered easy chair,
A turning of the window-blind,
That all may feel the air;
An early flower bestowed unasked,
A light and cautious tread,
A voice to softest whispers hushed
To spare an aching head—
Oh, things like these, though little things,
The purest love disclose,
As fragrant atoms in the air
Reveal the hidden rose.
8. Kindness
by Naomi Shihab Nye
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
Poems about Kindness to Others
Let us now go through some of the poems about kindness to others. These kindness poems about helping others remind us that the greatest kindness we can give one another is our presence, in both good and terrible times—to love one other even in our most unlikeable moods and to provide a feeling of preservation in the midst of turmoil.
1. Help in Need
by James McIntyre
A poor man’s horse it ran away,
Soon man upon the roadside lay,
With his leg all badly broken,
Of sympathy some gave token.
One said your trouble grieves my heart,
But with his money would not part,
Another said, while heaving sighs,
It brings the tears into mine eyes.
But a good true hearted man,
His heart with kindness it o’er ran,
The poorest man among the three,
A pound he did contribute free.
Others gave in empty feeling,
But this poor man he did bring healing,
The giver only Lord doth prize,
Who helps afflicted for to rise.
2. To Lift Each Other
by Wes Fessler
Is it possible to build a dream by tearing others down?
Is there any way to fly if we refuse to leave the ground?
Not a gain was ever made while shoving someone else aside.
In the course of stopping others, our momentum is denied.
When we find the good in others, praising them for who they are,
we build speed for one another. We’re both able to go far.
It is possible to reach our dreams together if we try.
We must learn to lift each other if we ever hope to fly.
3. Try a Little Kindness
by Barbara R Maxwell
In this rough world
Try a little kindness
Instead of being harsh
Try a little kindness
Instead of complaining
Try a little kindness
Instead of a frown
Try a smile
Try a little kindness
Instead of unhappiness
Be happy
Try a little kindness
Instead of darkness and pain
Walk towards the light
Try a little kindness
Instead of clouds and rain
See the sun
Try a little kindness.
4. Sowing and Reaping
by Adelaide Anne Procter
Sow with a generous hand;
Pause not for toil and pain;
Weary not through the heat of summer,
Weary not through the cold spring rain;
But wait till the autumn comes
For the sheaves of golden grain.
Scatter the seed, and fear not,
A table will be spread;
What matter if you are too weary
To eat your hard-earned bread;
Sow, while the earth is broken,
For the hungry must be fed.
Sow;—while the seeds are lying
In the warm earth’s bosom deep,
And your warm tears fall upon it—
They will stir in their quiet sleep,
And the green blades rise the quicker,
Perchance, for the tears you weep.
Then sow;—for the hours are fleeting,
And the seed must fall to-day;
And care not what hand shall reap it,
Or if you shall have passed away
Before the waving cornfields
Shall gladden the sunny day.
Sow;—and look onward, upward,
Where the starry light appears,—
Where, in spite of the coward’s doubting,
Or your own heart’s trembling fears,
You shall reap in joy the harvest
You have sown to-day in tears.
5. “I’ll Stretch It a Little”
by Anonymous
The wintry blast was fierce and cold,
And the lassie’s coat was thin and old.
Her little brother by her side
Shivered and pitifully cried.
“Come underneath my coat,” said she,
“And see how snug and warm you’ll be.”
The brother answered, nothing loth,
“But is it big enough for both?”
“Yes,” said the girl, with cheery wit;
“I’ll stretch it out a little bit.”
Ah, brothers, sisters, where the mind
Is bent upon an action kind,
What though the means are sparely spun,
And hardly seem to serve for one?
Stretch them with love, and straightway you
Will find them amply wide for two!
6. Little Things
by Julia Fletcher Carney
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land.
Thus the little minutes,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.
So our little errors
Lead the soul away
From the path of virtue
Far in sin to stray.
Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Help to make earth happy
Like the heaven above.
7. The Real Good?
by John Boyle O’Reilly
What is the real good?
I asked in musing mood.
Order, said the law-court;
Knowledge, said the school;
Truth, said the wise man;
Pleasure, said the fool;
Love, said the maiden;
Beauty, said the page;
Freedom, said the dreamer;
Home, said the sage;
Fame, said the soldier;
Equity, the seer: –
Spake my heart full sadly,
“The answer is not here.”
Then within my bosom,
Softly this I heard,
“Each heart holds the secret,
Kindness is the word!”
Poems about Kindness and Compassion
Send someone a gift of poems about kindness and compassion if you think they did an outstanding job on their working paper, or if you value how much your friend responds to your problems, or if you want to remember a loved one that they are vital to you. Here are some poems that inspire kindness.
1. If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking
by Emily Dickinson
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
2. A Simple Act of Kindness
by David Harris
A simple act of kindness
can stop a million tears.
A little hug
can give so much joy.
A letter now and then to someone
can save so many wasted years.
We should hold every moment precious
and help as many as we can
with a simple act of kindness
every now and then.
The world would be a better place
if we all cared a little more.
Imagine how many smiling faces
would greet us at the door
if we extended that helping hand
with a simple act of kindness
that could spread across many lands.
3. A Gift to Share
by Alora M. Knight
I was given a smile the other day
From someone who passed me on their way.
I wasn’t sure what I should do.
Perhaps, I’ll leave it up to you.
If I should keep it for myself,
Put it on the kitchen shelf.
Then it would be a certainty
To bring some happiness to me.
Somehow that doesn’t feel just right
For me to keep it in my sight
When there were others who might need
A waft of warmth, oh yes indeed.
It doesn’t take so very much,
A cheerful smile, a gentle touch,
To lift the cloud another bears,
To help them feel somebody cares.
There is one thing we all should know.
A smile is like the candle’s glow.
No matter how many candles share
That light, its fullness still is there.
So when I go out on the street,
No matter whom I chance to meet,
If I share with them my precious smile,
Do you think that will be worthwhile?
For hopefully, they too, will understand
That a smile is like a helping hand.
I’m hoping that you will agree
And someday share a smile with me.
4. Kind Words
by Daniel Clement Colesworthy
A little word in kindness spoken,
A motion or a tear,
Has often healed the heart that’s broken,
And made a friend sincere.
A word a look has crushed to earth
Full many a budding flower,
Which, had a smile but owned its birth,
Would bless life’s darkest hour.
Then deem it not an idle thing,
A pleasant word to speak;
The face you wear, the thoughts you bring,
A heart may heal or break.
5. Have You Earned Your Tomorrow
by Edgar Guest
Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?
Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
Or a churlish sort of “Howdy” and then vanish in the throng?
Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,
Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?
Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that’s slipping fast,
That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;
Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?
Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?
6. Greatness Is Goodness
by Evander A. Crewson
Down along the vale of years
A Lincoln or Grady sometimes appears,
With grandest qualities in man combined,
Kind in heart and great in mind.
So great in mind, so kind in heart,
That dignity bears but little part;
We love him because we understand
Goodness and greatness go hand in hand.
Though mid stars his name be lined,
His love grows deeper for all mankind;
Though with jewels his crown be set,
That he is our friend we never forget.
Counting it all, the heart is the gate,
And only through love can greatness be great;
The greatest of names we have written above
On fame’s blazing scroll are written by love.
Poems about Kindness and Caring
These poems about kindness and caring remind us of the importance of every act of compassion. Nothing is too insignificant. You never know how your words and deeds will affect a hurting soul.
The generosity you provide to others today may repay you in manner beyond your fevered fantasies. Choosing kindness has always been worth the effort.
1. Empathy
by George Eliot
Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible
Comfort of feeling safe with a person,
Having neither to weight thoughts,
Nor measure words–but pouring them
All right out–just as they are
Chaff and grain together,
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them,
Keep what is worth keeping,
And with the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.
2. Kindness
by Gordon Rosenberg
What could be greater than to realize this?
That kindness is the way to all gain and all knowing
That kindness is the only thing that ever matters
What else is there to be which takes us further
Than being kind to someone for no reason?
Other than to be kind!
Loving those around us is the only way to anything
Because there’s no distinction between them and us
When we give to someone, we give to ourselves as well
Not because giving might bring us some nice reward
But because that person is us and we are them!
Not just similar to us, for that’s not enough
We’re each guided by the same force
And made of the very same stuff!
Kindness is our greatest gift to ourselves
Kindness is our birth right and our responsibility
Kindness is our way home
Kindness is the true religion of all the universe!
3. My Wish for You
by Anonymous
Quiet strolls on moonlit nights,
A playgrounds endless laughter,
Blooming roses in the spring,
The glow the morning after.
Walking barefoot in the grass,
A poem that makes you cry,
The feel of silk upon your skin,
An eagle when it flies.
Love songs on the radio,
Old couples holding hands,
New born kittens nursing,
Enthusiastic fans.
Sitting on a porch swing,
Sipping lemonade,
Admiring the Beauty
In all that God has made.
Watching for a shooting star,
A breeze that cools things down,
The first snow of winter,
A night out on the town.
Little acts of kindness,
A loving word or two,
Simple things to treasure,
These things I Wish for You!
4. Tears
by Whitney Fancher
I come when pain
Becomes too much to take.
I come when you’re sad,
Or your heart starts to break.
I might come when you panic,
I might come when you’re mad.
I’ll show up here and there,
When enough is what you’ve had.
I’m salty and warm,
I might be big or small.
Sometimes when you’re strong,
I don’t come up at all.
I fill your eyes with moisture,
I roll down your cheek.
Sometimes I mean joyous,
Sometimes I mean weak.
Sometimes when you’re scared,
I come as a sign of fear.
You can feel when I’m coming,
Whether far or near.
I may come along
When you hear your favorite song.
Sometimes I show up
When you’ve been strong for too long.
I know you want to fly away.
I know inside you’re a mess.
You long for a brighter day.
Tears are words the heart can’t express.
5. Kindness
by W.J.M.
Scarce the honey-dew of kindness;
Priceless is the balm of love;
Life-long joy a look oft giveth;
Endless pain when we reprove.
Gentle words and kindly manners
Cast no more than acts of scorn;
Gain true friends and life is richer,
Making men seem heaven-born.
Poems about Kindness for Students
Let us no go through some of the kindness poems for students. Consider this: who can you call on today? Who has been keeping tabs on you?
Let us take a moment to recognize the students who have stood the test of time and remained regardless of the conditions. Share these poems about acts of kindness with them.
1. In Kindness
by Anne Marie Cline
Kindness speaks the words,
Your heart could never speak.
Your wings hold me up,
And give me strength when I am weak.
The warmth of your protection,
Brings music to my heart.
You open up the doors,
You show me where to start.
2. If I Could Catch A Rainbow
by Sandra Lewis Pringle
If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it, just for you,
And, share with you, its beauty, on the days you’re feeling blue.
If I could, I would build a mountain, you could call your very own.
A place to find serenity, a place just to be alone.
If I could, I would take your troubles, and toss them into the sea.
But, all these things, I’m finding, are impossible for me.
I cannot build a mountain, or catch a rainbow fair;
but, let me be, what I know best,
A Friend, who’s always there.
I promise to defend you, should the occasion ever rise,
And, I promise to wipe away the tears,
which might stream from your weeping eyes.
Let me be the trusted Friend, the one that you know best.
I will never leave you, on that, you can surely rest.
3. Give Them the Flowers Now
by Leigh M. Hodges
Closed eyes can’t see the white roses,
Cold hands can’t hold them, you know;
Breath that is stilled cannot gather
The odors that sweet from them blow.
Death, with a peace beyond dreaming,
Its children of earth doth endow;
Life is the time we can help them,
So give them the flowers now!
Here are the struggles and striving,
Here are the cares and the tears;
Now is the time to be smoothing
The frowns and the furrows and fears.
What to closed eyes are kind sayings?
What to hushed heart is deep vow?
Naught can avail after parting,
So give them the flowers now!
Just a kind word or a greeting;
Just a warm grasp or a smile—
These are the flowers that will lighten
The burdens for many a mile.
After the journey is over
What is the use of them; how
Can they carry them who must be carried?
Oh, give them the flowers now!
Blooms from the happy heart’s garden,
Plucked in the spirit of love;
Blooms that are earthly reflections
Of flowers that blossom above.
Words cannot tell what a measure
Of blessing such gifts will allow
To dwell in the lives of many,
So give them the flowers now!
4. Kindness
by Edgar Albert Guest
One never knows
How far a word of kindness goes;
One never sees
How far a smile of friendship flees.
Down, through the years,
The deed forgotten reappears.
One kindly word
The souls of many here has stirred.
Man goes his way
And tells with every passing day,
Until life’s end:
“Once unto me he played the friend.”
We cannot say
What lips are praising us to-day.
We cannot tell
Whose prayers ask God to guard us well.
But kindness lives
Beyond the memory of him who gives.
5. The Spoken Word
by David V. Bush
Whate’er in life we say or do
A boomerang will be,
For from the law of “like brings like”
We never can be free.
If lofty thoughts spring from your heart,
And goodness fills your mind,
The waves you send abroad in life
Will come back glad and kind.
If sin or malice taint your soul,
And fill your thoughts with hate.
Be certain that the evil waves
Will haunt you soon or late.
If you spread cheer and love around;
If noble deeds you do.
All these in time will bring reward.
And travel back to you.
If we’re to help this suffering world
In thought or word or deed.
Since what we sow we’re sure to reap,
It’s kindness that we need.
If some weak brother falls or slips
Upon the toilsome way,
Lend him a hand, and help him rise.
And guard the things you say.
God’s changeless laws are working still
And every word comes back;
And gossip’s evil tongue some day
May have you on the rack.
So send kind thoughts to all mankind
Where’er the skies extend;
For each thought, be it good or bad,
Will come back in the end.
6. The Little Things
by Margaret Lindsey
The little things are most worthwhile
A quiet word, a look, a smile,
A listening ear that’s quick to share
Another’s thoughts, another’s care…
Though sometimes they may seem quite small,
These little things mean most of all.
Poems about Kindness in English
Let us now take a look at some of the poems on kindness in English. These kindness poems in English tell us we’re all only as powerful as our compassion for others who are vulnerable.
For with courage must come the ability to comprehend and the knowledge to act with tenderness and care for those who cannot help themselves.
1. All That Matters
by Edgar A. Guest
When all that matters shall be written down
And the long record of our years is told,
Where sham, like flesh, must perish and grow cold;
When the tomb closes on our fair renown
And priest and layman, sage and motleyed clown
Must quit the places which they dearly hold,
What to our credit shall we find enscrolled?
And what shall be the jewels of our crown?
I fancy we shall hear to our surprise
Some little deeds of kindness, long forgot,
Telling our glory, and the brave and wise
Deeds which we boasted often, mentioned not.
God gave us life not just to buy and sell,
And all that matters is to live it well.
2. Unkindness
by Charles Swain
Oh! could I learn indifference
From all I hear and see;
Nor think, nor care, for others, more
Than they may care for me!
Why follow thus, with vain regret,
To serve a broken claim;
If others can so soon forget,
Why should not I the same?
Oh! could I learn indifference
From all I hear and see;
Nor think, nor care, for others, more
Than they may care for me!
There is no blight that winter throws,
No frost, however stern,
Like that which chilled affection knows—
Which hearts, forsaken, learn!
What solace can the world impart
When love’s reliance ends?
Oh! there’s no winter for the heart
Like that unkindness sends!
Oh! could I learn indifference
From all I hear and see;
Nor think, nor care, for others, more
Than they may care for me
3. Influence
by Nettie Squire Sutton
We may not realize a kind word spoken
May cheer some lonely heart that’s almost broken.
We go about our daily tasks without a care
Of burdens we might lighten here or there.
Our daily occupation seems to be
So all important that we fail to see
Kind words and deeds will far outlive the rest;
We say or do and that alone will make us truly blessed.
For on some future day we know not when,
Our daily work will cease to trouble us, and then
Like ripples on the waves they’ll reach the farther shore
And we will find them there when we cross o’er.
We little know the influence of a word
For good or bad that we some bosom stirred;
We pass them by, nor do we care to know
Those thoughtless words we spoke were but a blow
And rankled in the heart of some dear friend—
And some kind word to one with cares oppressed
May cheer their heart till they are blessed,
And in return we get some cheerful word from those who love us yet.
And when we have no kind friend to linger near
Some ray of sunshine as from clouds above
Will fill our hearts with peace, content and love.
O, speak the word of comfort now and here
Before the flowers are scattered o’er the bier.
4. A Sermon in Rhyme
by Anonymous
If you have a friend worth loving,
Love him. Yes, and let him know
That you love him ere life’s evening
Tinge his brow with sunset glow;
Why should good words ne’er be said
Of a friend—till he is dead?
If you hear a song that thrills you,
Sung by any child of song,
Praise it. Do not let the singer
Wait deserved praises long;
Why should one that thrills your heart
Lack that joy it may impart?
If you hear a prayer that moves you
By its humble pleading tone,
Join it. Do not let the seeker
Bow before his God alone;
Why should not your brother share
The strength of “two or three” in prayer?
If you see the hot tears falling
From a loving brother’s eyes,
Share them, and by sharing,
Own your kinship with the skies;
Why should anyone be glad,
When his brother’s heart is sad?
If a silver laugh goes rippling
Through the sunshine on his face,
Share it. ‘Tis the wise man’s saying,
For both grief and joy a place;
There’s health and goodness in the mirth
In which an honest laugh has birth.
If your work is made more easy
By a friendly helping hand,
Say so. Speak out brave and truly,
Ere the darkness veil the land.
Should a brother workman dear
Falter for a word of cheer?
Scatter thus your seed of kindness,
All enriching as you go—
Leave them, trust the Harvest-Giver;
He will make each seed to grow.
So, until its happy end,
Your life shall never lack a friend.
5. Small Beginnings
by Charles Mackay
A traveler on the dusty road
Strewed acorns on the lea;
And one took root and sprouted up,
And grew into a tree.
Love sought its shade, at evening time,
To breathe his early vows;
And age was pleased, in heats of noon,
To bask beneath its boughs;
The dormouse loved its dangling twigs,
The birds sweet music bore;
It stood a glory in its place,
A blessing evermore.
A little spring had lost its way
Amid the grass and fern,
A passing stranger scooped a well
Where weary men might turn;
He walled it in, and hung with care
A ladle at the brink;
He thought not of the deed he did,
But judged that all might drink.
He paused again, and lo! the well,
By summer never dried,
Had cooled ten thousand parching tongues
And saved a life beside.
A dreamer dropped a random thought;
‘Twas old, and yet ’twas new;
A simple fancy of the brain,
But strong in being true.
It shone upon a genial mind,
And, lo! its light became
A lamp of life, a beacon ray,
A monitory flame;
The thought was small, its issue great;
A watch-fire on the hill;
It shed its radiance far adown,
And cheers the valley still.
A nameless man, amid a crowd
That thronged the daily mart,
Let fall a word of Hope and Love,
Unstudied from the heart;
A whisper on the tumult thrown,
A transitory breath—
It raised a brother from the dust,
It saved a soul from death.
O germ! O fount! O word of love!
O thought at random cast!
Ye were but little at the first,
But mighty at the last.
6. Kindness
by Sylvia Plath
Kindness glides around my house.
Dame Kindness, she is so nice!
The blue and red jewels of her rings smoke
In the windows, the mirrors
Are filling with smiles.
What is so real as the cry of a child?
A rabbit’s cry may be wilder
But it has no soul.
Sugar can cure everything, so Kindness says.
Sugar is a necessary fluid,
Its crystals a little poultice.
O kindness, kindness
Sweetly picking up pieces!
My Japanese silks, desperate butterflies,
May be pinned any minute, anesthetized
And here you come, with a cup of tea
Wreathed in steam.
The blood jet is poetry,
There is no stopping it.
You hand me two children, two roses.
Final Thoughts on Poems about Kindness
We hope you find these poems about kindness to be useful. Every year, we observe World Kindness Day, a day dedicated here to simple but soul-sustaining virtue of being kind to one another.
Let us choose kindness for ourselves and others as we commemorate this day and all it represents. The poems about kindness we shared with you will get you started.
In a constantly hurried and indifferent society, kindness might be an undervalued virtue. It is a term we frequently use in interactions with small kids when we advise them to get along with a fellow creature or a new friend.
These kindness poems educate us that generosity may take various forms and that a nice deed does not have to be time-consuming or difficult. We’ve also shared some of poems about kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye with you. So put them to good use.
