The Spur

I asked the rock beside the road what joy existence lent.     It answered, 'For a million years my heart has been content.'     I asked the truffle-seeking swine, as rooting by he went,     'What is the keynote of your life?'    He grunted out, 'Content.'     I asked a slave, who toiled and sung, just what his singing meant.     He plodded on his changeless way, and said, 'I am content.'     I asked a plutocrat of greed, on what his thoughts were bent.     He chinked the silver in his purse, and said, 'I am content.'     I asked the mighty forest tree from whence its force was sent.     Its thousand branches spoke as one, and said, 'From discontent.'     I asked the message speeding on, by what great law was rent     God's secret from the waves of space.    It said, 'From discontent.'     I asked the marble, where the works of God and man were blent,     What brought the statue from the block.    It answered, 'Discontent.'     I asked an Angel, looking down on earth with gaze intent,     How man should rise to larger growth.    Quoth he, 'Through discontent.'