The secret

I have a fancy: how shall I bring it

Home to all mortals wherever they be?

Say it or sing it? Shoe it or wing it,

So it may outrun or outfly me,

Merest cocoon-web whence it broke free?

Only one secret can save from disaster,

Only one magic is that of the Master:

Set it to music; give it a tune, —

Tune the brook sings you, tune the breeze brings you,

Tune the wild columbines nod to in June!

This is the secret: so simple, you see!

Easy as loving, easy as kissing,

Easy as — well, let me ponder — as missing,

Known, since the world was, by scarce two or three.