For some reason, I was thinking of one of my favorite poems tonight, (the one that I chose to memorize for my high-school graduation five years ago,) and, as I haven't posted a poem for quite some time, I thought it was a fitting time to do so now!
May God be with you in all your labor and times of waiting...
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream ! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real ! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way ;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife !
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o'erhead !
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time ;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
May God be with you in all your labor and times of waiting...
~A PSALM OF LIFE~
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream ! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real ! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way ;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife !
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o'erhead !
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time ;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
7 comments:
Oh, I love Longfellow! :) That poem is beautiful! Have you ever read his poem titled "Maidenhood"?
Re: Your comment: If there are Brussels Sprouts within a mile of me, trust me they'll be GONE before you can say knife! I love them! (Sauerkraut maybe not so much, but it's not bad if it's cooked up with some fresh apple juice and served over mashed taters.)
Oh, a double blessing! My sister, Jessica, just recently posted this poem (a family favourite)on her blog and here it is again! :) It really is a wonderful poem!
God bless you.
Lots of love,
Rachel*
That is a very uplifting poem. Thank you so much Cora for posting it! So often I find my self wondering what this life is for. I want the ones who come after me to know me as one who glorified God and enjoyed Him forever. Even though I may not see what lies ahead my God has prepared this way for me to walk in
and by faith I will go on.
Thanks for your encouraging words to me I will reply soon. I was going to last night but the power went out!:)
You are a dear sister and friend!
~Grace
What a lovely poem! :) Thank you for sharing dear! :D I love the last sections of the poem..about the footprints and how they can lift people up to look at the paths others have taken...so true! :)
I find such comfort in knowing the paths that the people in the bible and history lead. How even though they sinned and their lives held much trouble at times, God NEVER left them all alone or turned them away from Him. :) He is always there for His children and for those that seek Him with all their hearts. :)
Thank you for your email dear! :) I'll reply to that soon. ;) And thank you for your continued prayers! :)
I love you dear friend! :D
Hugs and have a blessed day!
~Rachel~
Dear Cora,
It's as much a blessing today as it was 5 years ago--maybe even more so. I know now that you posted it because you WANTED to and not just because it was one last assignment. :)
You live it too, and that's what makes it even more special to read these words here.
I love you Cora!
Mom
Oh how I love GOOD poetry! This is a wonderful poem - seems vaguely like I've read it before, but I'm not sure. Thank you so much for sharing it! I was needing this type of 'lift' just now :)
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
-Kyrie<><
Beautiful!!!!!!!! Your pictures are always so beautiful with the verses and poems you pick! :-D
Virginia~
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