"Accept My Full Heart's Thanks," a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Your words came just when needed.
Like a breeze,
Blowing and bringing from the wide salt sea
Some cooling spray, to meadow scorched with heat
And choked with dust and clouds of sifted sand
That hateful whirlwinds, envious of its bloom,
Had tossed upon it. But the cool sea breeze
Came laden with the odors of the sea
And damp with spray, that laid the dust and sand
And brought new life and strength to blade and
        bloom
So words of thine came over miles to me,
Fresh from the mighty sea, a true friend's heart,
And brought me hope, and strength, and swept away
The dusty webs that human spiders spun
Across my path. Friend--and the word means
        much--
So few there are who reach like thee, a hand
Up over all the barking curs of spite
And give the clasp, when most its need is felt,
Friend, newly found, accept my fell heart's thanks.

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

I would like to dedicate this poem to Nikki, who is one of the sweetest and most thoughtful women I am privileged to know. Nikki has not had an easy life, but she is one of the most strong, and lovely people on this earth. One of my favorite things about Nikki, is her voice. She has this higher-pitched, spacious and beautifully feminine voice. Even when I don't hear it with my ears for long periods of time, that strong femininity comes through in her writing. She has been consistently supportive and loving to me throughout all of our years together, and I am very grateful for that.

Happy Birthday Nikki!