These things are lovely: love and faith and youth and mirth,
The quickening year, the greening of the earth;
The shining stars, the sunlight, and the rain;
The song of birds, the laughter of a child;
The touch of a hand, the sound of a voice,
The warmth of a smile, the blessing of a choice.
These things are lovely: peace and hope and joy and grace,
The strength of friendship, the love of family;
The thrill of exploration, the joy of discovery,
The peace of forgiveness, the freedom to be yourself;
The beauty of nature, the wonder of the world,
The love of God, the gift of life.
These things are lovely, they are all to be treasured.
Let us hold them close to our hearts and never let them go.
For they are the things that make life worth living,
The things that make us human.
The possible rhythm of the poem is iambic tetrameter, with eight beats per line.