The Real Good

'What is the real good?'
I ask in a 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,' said the seer.
Spake my heart fully sad:
'The answer is not here.'

Then within my bosom,
Softly this I heard:
'Each heart holds the secret:
'Kindness' is the word.'