I took a piece of plastic clay,
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yielded to my will.
I came again when days were past,
The bit of clay was hard at last.
The form I gave it, it still bore,
But I could change that form no more.
I took a piece of living clay
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded it with power and art-
A young child's soft and yielding heart.
I came again when years were gone,
It was a man I looked upon;
He still that early impress wore,
And I could change him never more.
-Author Unknown