journey poems of life

10 of the Best Poems about Journeys

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

According to Thomas de Quincey, Wordsworth clocked up an estimated 180,000 miles during his lifetime, walking around his beloved Lake District (to say nothing of the Quantocks, where he lived near Coleridge during the 1790s).

Andrew Marvell, ‘ Bermudas ’.

Where the remote Bermudas ride In th’ocean’s bosom unespied, From a small boat, that row’d along, The list’ning winds receiv’d this song. ‘What should we do but sing his praise That led us through the wat’ry maze Unto an isle so long unknown, And yet far kinder than our own?

This poem, from the seventeenth-century poet Andrew Marvell, is set in the Atlantic ocean and focuses on a group of people aboard a boat, and clearly in exile from their native land. They spy the island of Bermuda, and sing a song in praise of the island. The next 32 lines of the poem comprise their song.

The people aboard the boat praise God for leading them to this previously undiscovered island, which seems ‘far kinder’ than the island they have left behind, namely Britain.

These people have endured and eluded sea-monsters and storms, and God has led them to safety on the ‘grassy stage’ of this new island. It is mentioned that they are fleeing England because of ‘prelates’ rage’, namely religious persecution – so ‘Bermudas’ is a poem about undertaking a difficult journey to find a new place where a community of people can start afresh.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner .

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner.

‘The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the lighthouse top.

‘The Sun came up upon the left, Out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and on the right Went down into the sea …

Written in 1797-8, this is Coleridge’s most famous poem – it first appeared in Lyrical Ballads . The idea of killing an albatross bringing bad luck upon the crew of a ship appears to have been invented in this poem, as there is no precedent for it – and the albatross idea was probably William Wordsworth’s, not Coleridge’s (Wordsworth got the idea of the albatross-killing from a 1726 book, A Voyage Round The World by Way of the Great South Sea , by Captain George Shelvocke).

The poem is one of the great narrative poems in English, with the old mariner recounting his story, with its hardships and tragedy, to a wedding guest. Variously interpreted as being about guilt over the Transatlantic slave trade, about Coleridge’s own loneliness, and about spiritual salvation, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner remains a challenging poem about a journey whose lessons the ship’s crew, and we as readers, continue to learn from.

Robert Browning, ‘ How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix ’.

I sprang to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I gallop’d, Dirck gallop’d, we gallop’d all three; ‘Good speed!’ cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrew; ‘Speed!’ echoed the wall to us galloping through; Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we gallop’d abreast …

Beginning with the wonderfully rhythmical lines ‘I sprang to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; / I gallop’d, Dirck gallop’d, we gallop’d all three’. But this poem, describing a horse-ride to deliver some important news (although we never learn what the news actually is). Instead, the emphasis is on the journey itself, with the sound of the galloping horses excellently captured through the metre of the verse.

This poem has a notable claim to fame: in 1889, it became the first poem (spoken by the author) to be recorded on a phonograph, when Browning recited (half-remembered) words from the poem into an Edison phonograph at a dinner party.

Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, ‘ The Night Mail North ’.

Now then, take your seats! for Glasgow and the North; Chester! – Carlisle! – Holyhead, – and the wild Firth of Forth,

‘Clap on the steam and sharp’s the word, You men in scarlet cloth: –

‘Are there any more pas .. sengers, For the Night .. Mail .. to the North!’ Are there any more passengers? Yes three – but they can’t get in, – Too late, too late! – How they bellow and knock, They might as well try to soften a rock As the heart of that fellow in green …’

Before W. H. Auden’s more famous ‘Night Mail’ poem from 1936, there was this poem, whose full title is ‘The Night Mail North (Euston Square, 1840)’ – 1840 being the year the penny post was introduced in Britain. Pennell captures the snatches of conversation on the train as it prepares to embark on its long voyage north and the passengers settle down for their journey in this skilful piece of what we might call documentary poetry.

Emily Dickinson, ‘ Our Journey had advanced ’.

Our journey had advanced; Our feet were almost come To that odd fork in Being’s road, Eternity by term …

In many of the best journey poems, the journey is a metaphor for something greater – and this is certainly the case in this Emily Dickinson poem. And what journey is greater than that from life into death, mortality into eternity?

A. E. Housman, ‘ White in the moon the long road lies ’.

White in the moon the long road lies, The moon stands blank above; White in the moon the long road lies That leads me from my love.

Still hangs the hedge without a gust, Still, still the shadows stay: My feet upon the moonlit dust Pursue the ceaseless way …

In this poem, the king of lugubrious English verse writes about leaving his beloved, with the road lying ahead of him that ‘leads me from my love’. And although he trusts that the same road will eventually lead him back to his love, first he must travel far, far away.

W. B. Yeats, ‘ Sailing to Byzantium ’.

That is no country for old men. The young In one another’s arms, birds in the trees, —Those dying generations—at their song, The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas, Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long Whatever is begotten, born, and dies. Caught in that sensual music all neglect Monuments of unageing intellect …

W. B. Yeats wrote ‘Sailing to Byzantium’ in 1927, when he was in his early sixties, and the poem sees Yeats’s speaker announcing that the country he’s left behind is ‘no country for old men’.

Being old, the speaker felt out of place there, and so he is making a journey (a pilgrimage?) to the ancient city of Byzantium, which can be read as a symbol for his yearning for spiritual meaning: the poem, then, is about a spiritual journey, and renouncing the hold of the world upon us in order to attain something higher than the physical or sensual.

D. H. Lawrence, ‘ The Ship of Death ’.

Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion.

The apples falling like great drops of dew to bruise themselves an exit from themselves.

And it is time to go, to bid farewell to one’s own self, and find an exit from the fallen self …

A poem of angst and death, ‘The Ship of Death’ uses the metaphor of a journey to invoke the idea of self-discovery: the poem involves the poem’s speaker calling for the reader to prepare a ‘ship of death’ – ‘the fragile ship of courage, the ark of faith’ – to transport them to ‘oblivion’, travelling from ‘the old self’ to ‘the new’.

T. S. Eliot, ‘ Journey of the Magi ’.

A nativity poem with a difference, ‘Journey of the Magi’ (1927) is spoken by one of the ‘Three Wise Men’ (as they’re commonly known), as they make their journey to visit the infant Jesus. The speaker reflects on the hardships he and his fellow travellers endure on their journey, and the implications of the advent of Christ for the Magi’s own belief system.

Philip Larkin, ‘ The Whitsun Weddings ’.

This poem, the title poem in Larkin’s 1964 collection, describes a journey from Hull to London on the Whitsun weekend and the wedding parties that Larkin sees climbing aboard the train at each station. Actually inspired by a train journey from Hull down to Loughborough in the Midlands, ‘The Whitsun Weddings’ captures the hope and togetherness these wedding parties symbolise – although the poem can also be read in a less optimistic way .

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10 Of The Best Poems About Life Ever To Have Been Written

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Great poetry manages to express the very essence of its subject – and when it comes to life, that’s quite the challenge.

To capture something that is so varied, but that binds us together as brothers and sisters in arms takes real skill and craft.

Luckily for us, the best poets through the ages have penned many a classic and beautiful verse to help us understand – nay decipher – life in all its glory.

Here are 10 of the most deep and meaningful poems about life. Some long, some short, some famous, some less so.

If viewing on a mobile device, we recommend turning the screen landscape to ensure correct formatting of each poem as you read it.

10 Beautiful Poems About Life

1. a psalm of life by henry wadsworth longfellow.

This rhyming poem is the spark that can reignite the fires within you. It challenges you to go out and live your life in the present moment as a “ hero ” and leave your mark on this world.

Act! Take Action! Be Active!

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.

2. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Life is made up of a succession of choices. This famous poem begins at a fork in a wooded path and ushers the reader along one “road” as a means of explaining that we must choose one way or another and not dilly-dally in life.

No matter which way we go, we cannot foresee where it will take us, nor how the other would have turned out.

We can do our best to make good decisions, but we’ll never truly know how much worse or better an alternative might have been. And so, we mustn’t regret the road not taken.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

3. If— by Rudyard Kipling

Life will challenge you – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This poem calls out for you to endure, keep going through, and rise above the adversity you will face.

It inspires , it motivates, it provides an example to follow. It’s like a recipe for life – and it provides a most satisfying meal.

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

4. Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas

Death is inevitable, and as this poem states (‘death’ being ‘dark’), it is right. But the author urges us not to yield to death too easily and to fight for life ‘til our last breath.

It reminds us in a powerful and persuasive way that life is fleeting and we ought to make the most of the time we have on this planet.

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

5. Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

This prose poem is like an instruction manual for life. It is hugely uplifting and affirms life as something to be journeyed through with integrity and compassion.

It touches upon many areas of existence from our relationships and careers to ageing and our mental well-being.

Truly, a deep and meaningful composition if ever there were one.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

6. Leisure by W. H. Davies

This short poem could not be more pertinent to the world of today if it tried. It counsels us to take the time to “stand and stare” or, in other words, to slow down and observe all the beauty that surrounds you.

Don’t let the world rush by without notice; open your eyes and see – really see – it in all its glory. Make space in your life for this simplest act of leisure.

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

7. Opportunity by Berton Braley

You may ask yourself what the point of life is if all you do is repeat what others have done before you. This poem serves to remind us that the world never tires of creation and that you are a creator.

It talks of great acts and great deeds, but also of love and romance and laughter and loyalty – things that every man or woman is capable of.

Value what you have to contribute to this world.

With doubt and dismay you are smitten You think there’s no chance for you, son? Why, the best books haven’t been written, The best race hasn’t been run, The best score hasn’t been made yet, The best song hasn’t been sung, The best tune hasn’t been played yet, Cheer up, for the world is young! No chance? Why the world is just eager For things that you ought to create, It’s store of true wealth is still meager, It’s needs are incessant and great, It yearns for more power and beauty, More laughter and love and romance, More loyalty, labor and duty, No chance–why there’s nothing but chance! For the best verse hasn’t been rhymed yet, The best house hasn’t been planned, The highest peak hasn’t been climbed yet, The mightiest rivers aren’t spanned, Don’t worry and fret, faint hearted, The chances have just begun, For the best jobs haven’t been started, The best work hasn’t been done.

8. What Life Should Be by Pat A. Fleming

Stepping away from the famous and classic works, we find this gem of a poem by an amateur writer (just goes to show that anyone can create pieces of great meaning).

Much like those more well-known poems above, it talks us through how we ought to try to live our lives. It’s simple, yet inspiring.

To learn while still a child What this life is meant to be. To know it goes beyond myself, It’s so much more than me. To overcome the tragedies, To survive the hardest times. To face those moments filled with pain, And still manage to be kind. To fight for those who can’t themselves, To always share my light. With those who wander in the dark, To love with all my might. To still stand up with courage, Though standing on my own. To still get up and face each day, Even when I feel alone. To try to understand the ones That no one cares to know. And make them feel some value When the world has let them go. To be an anchor, strong and true, That person loyal to the end. To be a constant source of hope To my family and my friends. To live a life of decency, To share my heart and soul. To always say I’m sorry When I’ve harmed both friend and foe. To be proud of whom I’ve tried to be, And this life I chose to live. To make the most of every day By giving all I have to give. To me that’s what this life should be, To me that’s what it’s for. To take what God has given me And make it so much more To live a life that matters, To be someone of great worth. To love and be loved in return And make my mark on Earth.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/what-life-should-be

9. What Is Our Life? by Sir Walter Raleigh

This is the shortest poem on the list at just 10 lines, but it encapsulates how life should not be taken seriously . Instead, the author suggests that life is a comedy and that the earth is our stage.

So what should we do? Act well. Make people laugh. Play our part in the world until the curtain falls and we depart this life.

What is our life? The play of passion. Our mirth? The music of division: Our mothers’ wombs the tiring-houses be, Where we are dressed for life’s short comedy. The earth the stage; Heaven the spectator is, Who sits and views whosoe’er doth act amiss. The graves which hide us from the scorching sun Are like drawn curtains when the play is done. Thus playing post we to our latest rest, And then we die in earnest, not in jest.

10. The Builders by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We started with a poem by this author and so we shall end with another. Here, we are taught that life sits atop the building blocks of time and that our actions today give rise to our tomorrows.

We are the architects and builders of our lives and if we want to attain our own version of success, we must put in the hard work and energy.

All are architects of Fate, Working in these walls of Time; Some with massive deeds and great, Some with ornaments of rhyme. Nothing useless is, or low; Each thing in its place is best; And what seems but idle show Strengthens and supports the rest. For the structure that we raise, Time is with materials filled; Our to-days and yesterdays Are the blocks with which we build. Truly shape and fashion these; Leave no yawning gaps between; Think not, because no man sees, Such things will remain unseen. In the elder days of Art, Builders wrought with greatest care Each minute and unseen part; For the Gods see everywhere. Let us do our work as well, Both the unseen and the seen; Make the house, where Gods may dwell, Beautiful, entire, and clean. Else our lives are incomplete, Standing in these walls of Time, Broken stairways, where the feet Stumble as they seek to climb. Build to-day, then, strong and sure, With a firm and ample base; And ascending and secure Shall to-morrow find its place. Thus alone can we attain To those turrets, where the eye Sees the world as one vast plain, And one boundless reach of sky.

About The Author

Steve Phillips-Waller is the founder and editor of A Conscious Rethink. He has written extensively on the topics of life, relationships, and mental health for more than 8 years.

40 Transformative Poems About Life Everyone Should Know

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Blog – Posted on Monday, Jul 11

40 transformative poems about life everyone should know.

Let’s face it. Sometimes, life can get confusing and hard. In such times, it can be useful to turn to the wisdom of poetry. Poetry has a way of making us feel understood — it can make us feel empowered, hopeful, and remind us why life is worth living. So, in this post we’ve put together a list of the 40 greatest poems about life. From classics like Robert Frost and Rumi to the more contemporary Rupi Kaur, you’re guaranteed to find something that resonates with what you’re feeling.

1. "Risk", by Anaïs Nin

And then the day came,

when the risk

to remain tight

was more painful

than the risk

to blossom.

A single sentence broken up into 8 small lines, Anaïs Nin’s “Risk” uses a flower as a metaphor, to remind us that there will come a day when the pain of complacency will exceed the pain of actually daring to make a change. The poem serves as an understated call to action — make the change now, no matter how scary.

2. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", by Robert Frost

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Reading out like a heartbeat, Frost's most famous work draws from nature to explore the human conflict of being torn between life’s beauty and its responsibilities. With the repetition of ‘and miles to go before I sleep’ closing out the poem, Frost perfectly captures the feeling of a moment we've all experienced — one where we're weary of life and its challenges.

3. “Hope is the thing with feathers", by Emily Dickinson

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

The evocative extended metaphor at the heart of this work has helped to cement "Hope is a thing with feathers" as perhaps the best-loved of Dickinson's 1,800 poems. In the last stanza, Dickinson beautifully captures the ever-giving, selfless nature of hope⁠— the bird of hope sings in the harshest, most adverse times in our lives, never asking for anything in return.

4. "The Peace of Wild Things", by Wendell Berry

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Written in free verse , "The Peace of Wild Things” intentionally slips the shackles of a standard meter and rhyme scheme. The loose structure of the poem mirrors the uncontrolled, free-flowing beauty of nature when left to its own devices. Berry admires the power of nature’s simplicity, reminding us that we can always turn to ‘the grace of the '"world’ to soothe an ever-worrying, overthinking human mind.

5. "The Summer Day", by Mary Oliver

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

Reflecting on the futility of life, Oliver’s “The Summer Day” shakes the reader by the shoulder, offering a jolt of inspiration. As everything dies ‘at last’ and ‘too soon’, the poem encourages us to live our one life intentionally. By asking the reader what you plan to do with ‘your one wild and precious life’, the poem serves as a reminder that it’s ultimately our job to fill our own lives with meaning (whatever that might mean for each one of us!). So, what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

6. "The Guest House", by Rumi

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

Written by the great 13th-century Persian poet, "The Guest House" is a call for acceptance — one that is, unsurprisingly, often invoked in mindfulness circles. Rumi uses the metaphor of a guest house, likening it to the mind. Much like guests in a lodge, thoughts arrive in our head one after another— some making us happy, sad, and even uncomfortable. This poem serves as a reminder to not resist life’s painful thoughts, but to welcome them with warmth and good grace.

7. "from Milk and Honey", by Rupi Kaur

what is stronger

than the human heart

which shatters over and over

and still lives

Inward-looking in style, Rupi Kaur’s collection of poems, from Milk and Honey, centers around the theme of self-love (which is also a form of introspection). Kaur’s poems ironically remind us that the emotional attention and love that we crave and desire is not something that can be sought in the outside world. Her clarion call to prioritize one’s self and start living intentionally is one that resonates deeply with today’s increasingly alienated generation.

8. "Sonnet 29", by William Shakespeare

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

That then I scorn to change my state with kings

"Sonnet 29" is a single sentence, divided into two: a conditional clause and a main clause. Shakepeare first lists a series of misfortunes that he undergoes before revealing that his suffering is compensated for when he thinks of the person he loves. The poem thus reminds us that even in the toughest of times, those who we love have the power to completely change our outlook.

9. "I took my power in my hand", by Emily Dickinson

I aimed by Pebble—but Myself

Was all the one that fell—

Was it Goliath—was too large—

Or was myself—too small

Whilst not particularly uplifting, Dickinson’s “I took my power in my hand” brings out a harsh reality many of us struggle with — accepting failure. The poem is populated with unorthodox punctuation (particularly a liberal use of dashes) and mid-sentence capitalization to emphasize the confusion and bewilderment in the poet’s thoughts as she comes to terms with failure.

10. "O Me! O life!", by Walt Whitman

O Me! O life! of the questions of these recurring,

Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,

Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)

Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,

Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,

Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,

The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

One of Whitman’s shortest and most celebrated poems,“O Me! O Life!” highlights the daily struggle that is life. After his early lamentations, the poet concludes that the meaning of life lies in life itself — that we are present, alive, and can contribute our own verse to life. In Whitman’s case this is literally a verse, but metaphorically this refers to whatever you bring to the table.

11. "Life Doesn’t Frighten Me", by Maya Angelou

Shadows on the wall

Noises down the hall

Life doesn't frighten me at all

Bad dogs barking loud

Big ghosts in a cloud

If you’re looking for a little courage, “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” is the poem to turn to. Angelou takes us into the mind of a child who lists an elaborate array of things that seemingly don’t frighten her — ‘shadows’, ‘big ghosts’ or even ‘tough guys’. The refrain ‘frighten me at all’, is repeated ten times throughout the poem. This repetition causes one to question the speaker’s honesty — is the child really not frightened? Or is this repetition simply a way to make her feel braver? Whether the child is truly unafraid or not, this poem perfectly encapsulates the concept of facing your fears with a smile.

12. "A Psalm of Life", by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each to-morrow

Find us farther than to-day.

On reading “A Psalm of Life” , you might just feel an instant urge to live your best life. The poem rejects the idea that life can be broken down into meaningless, emotionless metrics. It advocates that life is neither made to suffer through, nor is it made to solely enjoy. While both these emotions are a part of the journey, the purpose of life is ‘to act’, improve oneself, and make each day better than the previous one.

13. "Do not go gentle into that good night", by Dylan Thomas

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

One of the most famous villanelles (a 19-line poem with a fixed form and rhyme scheme) written in English, Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night” is a poem not about life, but about death. While the poet acknowledges the inevitability of death, he uses this to highlight that life is precious and worth fighting for. Written as a dedication to his late father, the poem feels deeply personal and vulnerable —not just as a poet’s advice to the world, but as a son’s advice to his father.

14. "Desiderata", by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,

even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

The didactic tone of “Desiderata” stems from the fact that it is a poem Max Ehrmann wrote to his daughter as a manifesto to living a happy life. In Latin, desiderata means ‘things that are desired’. The poet lays out the ground rules he believes one must live by to have an authentic, virtuous life. The protective nature of Ehrmann’s advice to his daughter has resonated with millions, resulting in the poem being regarded as a manual to a life well-lived.

15. "Leisure", by W. H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

In a world increasingly ‘busy’ chasing material goals, “Leisure” reminds us to make time for the mind and soul. The poem begins with an irony-filled rhetorical question, where W.H Davies takes a jab at modernity and explains how it has robbed us of the simple things in life (such as to ‘stand’ in and ‘stare’ at nature). Davies’ belief in nature’s powers is evident, and he insists that we take some time to admire it and replenish our soul. So, if you’ve been overdoing it at work, “Leisure” is just the reminder you need to take a step back and stare!

16. "Opportunity," by Berton Braley

With doubt and dismay you are smitten

You think there's no chance for you, son?

Why, the best books haven't been written

The best race hasn't been run,

The best score hasn't been made yet,

The best song hasn't been sung,

The best tune hasn't been played yet,

Cheer up, for the world is young!

When feeling doubtful, ‘cheer up’, and let Braley’s words motivate you into action! The narrator addresses the poem to his ‘son’, adding a caring, reassuring tone to his speech. The poem celebrates the abundance of life, mentioning the vast sea of opportunities that we can capitalize on — to write the best books, sing the best songs, etc. It reiterates that opportunities are plentiful (and there’s enough for everyone).

17. "The Builders", by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

All are architects of Fate,

Working in these walls of Time;

Some with massive deeds and great,

Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Considering Longfellow’s long career as an educator, the optimistic nature of “The Builders” comes as no surprise. By calling everyone ‘an architect of Fate’, working in the ‘walls of Time’, he conveys that all humans have a meaningful impact on the world. Be it with ‘massive deeds’ or ‘ornaments of rhyme’, each and every person has a role to play.

18. "Life", by Charlotte Brontë

Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,

But these are transient all;

If the shower will make the roses bloom,

O why lament its fall?

A simple message resides at the core of Brontë’s “Life” — to live with a fearless outlook. Brontë wishes to dismiss the glorified idea that life is dark or unpleasant. She highlights the transient nature of the gloomy aspects of life, reminding us that they eventually clear and are replaced by something pleasant (like blooming roses after rain). So why dread the rain?

19. "Full Life", by D. H. Lawrence

A man can’t fully live unless he dies and ceases to care,

ceases to care.

An extremely short poem, D.H Lawrence’s “Full Life” can be entirely quoted in two sentences. While Lawrence may be advocating a nonchalant, unbothered approach to life (as clearly reflected in the poem’s length), the paradoxical nature of the poem’s very existence often leaves readers wondering what the poet really means.

20. "What Is This Life", by Sir Walter Raleigh

What is our life? The play of passion

Our mirth? The music of division:

Our mothers’ wombs the tiring-houses be,

Where we are dressed for life’s short comedy.

A somber contemplation on life’s brevity, “What is This Life” likens life to a play — specifically, a ‘short comedy’. The rhyme scheme of the poem (aa bb cc dd ee) is short and simple, reflecting the monotony and shortness of life. Further, the predictable nature of the repeating couplets highlights that life always comes to the same end — death. The poem serves as a matter-of-fact reminder that life is meaningless, short, and therefore not to be taken too seriously.

21. "Each Life Converges to some Centre", by Emily Dickinson

Each Life Converges to some Centre –

Expressed – or still –

Exists in every Human Nature

Aligned with Emily Dickinson’s quest for universal truth, this poem considers the purpose of human existence. It says that all of humanity, whether consciously or unconsciously, strives towards an end goal. Dickinson then alternates between saying that this goal is achievable and that it isn’t, mirroring the uncertain manner in which we aim to reach a goal of which we have no proof. This complex, philosophical poem will definitely leave you questioning life!

22. "Stream of life", by Rabindranath Tagore

The same stream of life that runs

through my veins night and day runs

through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy

through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and

breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

A celebration of the universe’s connectedness, “Stream of life” reflects Tagore’s world view that humans create their own segregation. The rhythm and flow of the poem, along with lively descriptions of the stream of life like ‘dancing in rhythmic measures’, or ‘shooting with joy’ will uplift your mood instantly. The poem leaves us with an innate sense of belonging to the world we live in. Seen from Tagore’s lens, isn’t this an incredible world to be part of?

23. "Still I Rise", by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Angelous’s “Still I rise” boldly celebrates the power of the human spirit, and highlights the importance of not being defeated by the obstacles life throws at you. Angelou specifically refers to the discrimination faced by African-Americans. The lesson? Life might pin you down, write you off, or have you up against the wall. Still you rise!

24. "Life Is a Privilege", by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Life is a privilege. Its youthful days

Shine with the radiance of continuous Mays.

To live, to breathe, to wonder and desire,

To feed with dreams the heart's perpetual fire;

The nostalgic tone of “Life is a Privilege'' makes one feel blessed to have the opportunity to live. Wilcox artfully describes all of life’s blessings (from the sun’s rays to the chance to chase our dreams). Serving as a bitter-sweet reminder of how short life is, the poem encourages the reader to leave no room for regret, and live out their heart's desires.

25. "Lines on a Skull", by Ravi Shankar

life’s little, our heads

sad. Redeemed and wasting clay

this chance. Be of use.

“Lines On a Skull” is a wake up call to be intentional with life. The poet compares life to clay, stating that every day we have a chance to either waste it, or create something meaningful. The poet urges us to use our heads and make our lives useful. Rather sound advice, isn’t it?

26. “The Room of My Life”, by Anne Sexton

in the room of my life

the objects keep changing.

Ashtrays to cry into,

the suffering brother of the wood walls,

the forty-eight keys of the typewriter

each an eyeball that is never shut,

Sexton’s “The Room of my Life” describes household objects in unconventional ways. The poet strikingly describes ashtrays, typewriters, etc for purposes that are out of their ordinary use — an ashtray being used to catch tears, etc. These objects highlight Sexton's pain and despair, showing life from a different perspective.

27. "A Question", by Robert Frost

A voice said, Look me in the stars

And tell me truly, men of earth,

If all the soul-and-body scars

Were not too much to pay for birth.

Frost’s “A Question”, consisting of merely 4 powerful lines, will hit you like an emotional shot. The poet questions whether the gift of life is worth the pain and suffering humans go through. True to the nature of the title, Frost ends the poem with the question itself—perhaps reflecting his inability to arrive at an answer (or the lack of a definite answer at all).

28. "Life", by Sarojini Naidu

Till ye have battled with great grief and fears,

And borne the conflict of dream-shattering years,

Wounded with fierce desire and worn with strife,

Children, ye have not lived: for this is life.

Addressed directly to children, this poem serves as a warning about life’s inevitable hardships. The poem states that children haven’t yet experienced the harsh realities of life (e.g., battled with great grief and fears, etc). While acknowledging the sufferings of life, this sonnet isn’t meant to demoralize, but instead to prepare children to face life.

29. "Each Moment Is Precious", by Pat A. Fleming

And the person you’re with,

In that moment you share,

Give them all of your focus;

Be totally there.

Written from the second person perspective, “Each Moment Is Precious” directly addresses the reader as ‘you’. This laces the poem with a sense of intimacy, making it feel like heartfelt advice by someone elderly and wise. Fleming beautifully reminds us to live in the present and savor every moment, as there are only a precious few.

30. "My Inner Life", by Robert William Service

For I've a hidden life no one

Can ever hope to see;

A sacred sanctuary none

May share with me.

“My Inner Life” celebrates the relationship we have with ourselves. The poem presents a narrator who seems to be misunderstood and alone. However, he then reveals that his ‘hidden life’ is precious, something he wouldn’t trade for the world. This poem reassuringly encourages us to be true to ourselves, regardless of what others may think.

31. "Life is Fine", by Langston Hughes

So since I’m still here livin’,

I guess I will live on.

I could’ve died for love—

But for livin’ I was born

The spirited “Life is Fine” highlights the theme of perseverance. Structurally similar to a blues song, it tells the story of a man who often considers suicide but never goes through with it. Towards the end of the poem, after several close encounters with death, the man realizes that he has something to live for. The honest, vulnerable tone of the poem resonates with many, encouraging us to keep going — even when we feel like giving up.

32. "Futility", by Wilfred Owen

Was it for this the clay grew tall?

—O what made fatuous sunbeams toil

To break earth's sleep at all?

Owen’s “Futility” questions how something as beautiful as life always loses to death. A combination of slant and perfect rhymes, the poem’s rhyme scheme reflects the uncertainty of soldiers' lives during the Great war. While the speaker does possess an admiration for life, he gradually begins to question its futile nature. This duality leaves the reader in two moods, savoring life but also questioning its meaning at the same time.

33. "Suppose", by E.E. Cummings

Life is an old man carrying flowers on his head.

young death sits in a café

smiling,a piece of money held between

his thumb and first finger

In “Suppose”, life and death are personified. The old man carrying flowers on his head might refer to a fear-led life. The man wants someone to buy his flowers, but is also scared for the moment when someone will take them away. Money in hand, Death would like to buy the flowers. Cumming brings out the fact that death will inevitably take everything from life, but his striking use of this metaphor evokes in us an urge to not waste ours in the first place.

34. "Ode To A Nightingale", by John Keats

Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget

What thou among the leaves hast never known,

The weariness, the fever, and the fret

Here, where men sit and hear each other groan

In an “Ode To a Nightingale”, Keats suggests that human consciousness itself is suffering. The singing nightingale has ‘never known’ these troubles, and represents freedom from the anxious, lonely human mind. The speaker later admits that while death would end his suffering, he would then be unable to enjoy the beauty of the nightingale’s song. So, the poem argues both for and against human consciousness, with no final stance on the matter.

35. "If", by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

Despite being 32 lines long, “If” is a single continuous sentence! The poem comprises many clauses beginning with ‘if you can’, each clause laying out a condition that the speaker believes the reader should fulfill to live a successful life. Widely considered as Kipling’s advice to his own son, “If” is a guide to living an ideal and worthwhile life.

36. "Dockery and Son", by Philip Larkin

Unhindered moon. To have no son, no wife,

No house or land still seemed quite natural.

Only a numbness registered the shock

Of finding out how much had gone of life,

Larkin’s “Dockery and Son” considers the fleeting nature of time. Candid and emotional, the poem captures the shock that the narrator faces after learning that one of his university juniors has a child (who now goes to the same university they used to attend). By repeating the ‘no’ in the 4th stanza, Larkin emphasizes the emptiness and regret he feels when he realizes ‘how much had gone of life’. This poem brings out a classic lesson — time shall pass, and waits for no one.

37. "My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is", by Sir Edward Dyer

My mind to me a kingdom is;

Such present joys therein I find,

That it excels all other bliss

That earth affords or grows by kind:

“My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is”, dating back to the Renaissance, declares that one’s mind is the most powerful source of one’s happiness. The poet metaphorically compares his mind to a kingdom, one where he reigns with a blissful state of control. Rather than constantly seeking pleasure elsewhere like several others, he reveals a refreshing sense of being content in possession of his most powerful tool, a peaceful mind.

38. "A Quoi Bon Dire", by Charlotte Mew

And one fine morning in a sunny lane

Some boy and girl will meet and kiss and swear

That nobody can love their way again

While over there

You will have smiled, I shall have tossed your hair.

In the first two stanzas of “A Quoi Bon Dire”, poet Charlotte Mew introduces a curious protagonist — one who does not despair at the loss of a soulmate; who doesn’t fret at the passing of the years. For indeed, the question of a quoi bon dire (or, ‘what’s the point?’) is answered in the closing lines that you see above — a sentiment that the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas would echo many decades later: “Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion.”

39. "My Heart Leaps Up", by William Wordsworth

My heart leaps up when I behold

A rainbow in the sky:

So was it when my life began;

So is it now I am a man;

So be it when I shall grow old,

Or let me die!

Wordsworth’s "My Heart Leaps Up" emphasizes the importance of retaining a child-like sense of enthusiasm throughout life. The poem begins by the speaker stating the joy he feels on seeing a rainbow, the very same delight he first felt when he saw it as a child. The poem argues that adults should not let this child-like sense of awe and appreciation for nature die out, as it is what makes life worth living.

40. "Life Is", by Mother Teresa

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Mother Teresa’s “Life Is” leaves us with wise words to live by. Filled with words of encouragement, the poem is the Nobel Peace laureate’s view on all that life is, and how it should be lived. The poem’s positive, inspiring tone promises to leave you in high spirits.

Well, we hope that these poems made you smile, reflect, and view life from a different lens! If you simply can’t get enough and would like to continue exploring the world of poetry, do check out our post on must-read love poems.

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Poems About Life

Poems about life can entertain you, motivate you, calm you, encourage you, soothe you and lift you up. Life's ups and downs in a poem. Enjoy!

Life Inspirational Poem

This life inspirational poem covers a lot of different types of life's struggles.

In life, there will be people who hurt you. Spend more time with those who love you. You will make mistakes. Mistakes are ammunition against future catastrophes. You may have regrets. Unless you can get time back, focus on happiness now. You may lose people you love. Pour that love on people who need it. You will bump against obstacles to your goals. Obstacles are challenges that sharpen your motivation and resolve. You may have worries that hold you back. Every fear you overcome makes you stronger and better. You are overcoming.

By Joanna Fuchs Poemsource.com

Happiness Tip

Happiness comes not from what goes on outside of you but rather in how you perceive life from the inside.

The healthy tendency to focus on and emphasize positive experiences and file them away for frequent recall while dimming memories of distressing times is one of the major components of a happy life.

Think of a happy memory right now.

By Joanna Fuchs

You may also like our page on Inspirational Words .

Boredom is rest, relaxation, free time. This free verse poem about life focuses on the positive aspects of boredom.

The Gift of Boredom

Are you bored?

Millions of people spend every waking moment working brutally hard to put meager food on the table and a roof over their heads.

Be grateful for your boredom.

Our time on the planet always SEEMS unlimited; but it's not. This free verse poem about life emphasizes the importance of controlling what we do with the time we have.

Running Out of Time

Life is complicated. There will always be problems. Stress is a distraction from what’s really important.

Don’t wait for things to get better. Count your blessings; Learn to be happy right now, Otherwise you might run out of time.

Poem about Life Is Short

Do you relate to this situation? I do! I wrote this poem about life from experience. Life is short; we only have so much time. We cannot let others steal that time making us unhappy. Note: In this poem, I am not referring to letting go of people who can't take care of themselves physically or mentally, but rather normal people who seem to take delight in provoking you.

Sometimes you have to let people go, to preserve your sanity, guard your health, protect your heart.

Sometimes those people are family, especially family, because they know what buttons to push.

Sometimes you have to forgive, release, and move on.

Life poems often talk about dealing with pressure and stress. Here's a poem about life that gives a solution.

Peace Amidst Chaos

In the midst of chaos, pressure, confusion and noise, create and inhabit your bubble of peace.

Life Celebration Poem

In the 1980s, I attended a self-improvement seminar, like EST, but not EST. An assignment was to "write a short poem about yourself." I wrote the following poem about celebrating life:

With the past as a brilliant teacher And the future as a beckoning light She rode the buoyant waves of now-- Reveling in the cool, wet sparkle of being.

Life Lesson Poems

A life lesson poem can make you aware of things you did not realize, such as, life does not give you what you want instantly. You have to work for your goals, have persistence, and be patient.

Things take time

Things take time. The efforts you are making today, the tasks you are doing, rarely produce instant results. Be patient. Watch, make adjustments, polish your plan. The seeds you have planted will bud and bloom at the right time, giving you even more results than you hoped for.

You take a huge leap forward when you understand the life lesson that your thoughts control your feelings and actions. A good life requires rest, needs sleep. For some, sleeplessness may be a physical problem, a chemical imbalance, some other bodily discomfort. But for many, it’s all about what does on in the mind, what you are thinking, that keeps you awake.

Time To Go To Sleep

"It’s time to go to sleep, but I don’t think I’ll be able to..." the first step on the wretched road to insomnia. Muscles tighten in knots, stomach groans in fearful anticipation, thoughts are entirely pessimistic. "Another sleepless night."

"It’s time to go to sleep, to rest, restore, rejuvenate. Mmm...looking forward to it." Head on soft pillow, snuggling into blanket, blessed peace, escape from chaos, letting go. Thoughts tuned by choice to happy memories, optimistic tomorrows, then...nothing. "Zzzzzzz."

Poems about Life's Journey

This poem about life's journey describes life's ups and downs.

That’s Life

A world full of corrupt, evil-doers can blind you to the decent people… loyal, pleasurable friends, honest, trustworthy strangers. A world full of immorality can make you forget the rewards of clinging to what is right. A world full of nastiness can block your awareness of all that’s nice in your life. Protect yourself against the bad. Embrace and enjoy the good. That’s life.

Life's journey is full of mistakes. Most people feel bad about mistakes. The smart ones us them to make their life's journey better, asking "What can I learn from this?"

Valuable Mistakes

A mistake is a valuable teacher with a lesson you can use for life. When you make an error, ask yourself: What can I learn from this? Write this new knowledge down. Apply it to make your life better. A better life from a beautiful mistake.

Stress Less

To ease stress, stop trying to get from people what they cannot or will not give. If they can’t or won’t do what you want if they can’t or won’t be who you want, trying to change them creates stress, frustration, sadness and anger. You can flee from them, or you can choose to accept them the way they are, living your life the way you want as much as you can, getting your needs met in other ways.

This poem about life is a mood lifter. It's a life poem that encourages you to look at the big picture, rather than just what' s happening right now.

Dark Times Life has dark times that make you stronger and smarter when the light returns.

This poem about life talks about how to deal with the seasons of life.

Gently look at the past. Enjoy pleasant memories. Learn from the past so you don’t repeat mistakes. Rein in the past when it creates sadness or anger. You are in control of what you choose to think, see and feel. Never let the past withdraw energy from the present.

Live in the moment. Stop to see, hear, smell, taste, feel. Wallow in the sensual pleasures of the present. Take time to escape the past and the future. Set yourself free to live now, right now.

Plan for the future, but don’t overdo it. Some things you can handle when they come, if they come. Resist canceling the present moment by overplanning the future. Peace is not needing to know everything that will happen.

Grab today. Squeeze all the juice out of it. Know you did well.

Poem about Life Struggles

Poems about life struggles are popular, so here's a free verse poem about life that can help you move past the pain.

Sometimes life hands us burdens we can't change, but we try anyway, using up a lot of energy and experiencing a lot of pain in the process.

Accept things you can't change. Accept, accept, accept. Then take that time and energy you've been wasting and focus it on something that will bring you pleasure.

You deserve it.

Poems about life always include problems with other people. Here's a cautionary message to help you be careful.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE THE DARK. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE THAT COULD HURT YOU UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

Those who write popular sayings about life always include the advice to let go of the past, plan but don't worry about the future, and always live in the present.

Take life one day at a time. Enjoy what there is to enjoy TODAY. The past cannot be changed. Fill your life with new pleasures TODAY. Stop worrying about a future that may or may not happen. See the exciting possibilities of TODAY.

Say, out loud, right now: I will make the most of TODAY!

The best sayings to live by come from the Bible.

Life poem Do Not Worry About Tomorrow against misty blue background of mountains.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR TOMORROW WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. EACH DAY HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE OF ITS OWN

Matthew 6:34

Curious about the Christian religion? What is Christianity? What is a Christian? What is Christian faith? To see the answers and find out how to become a Christian, check out this Web site .

There are more than 1,000 poems at this site.

Always remember to check out our SITE MAP to access all of our poems.

Thanks for reading these poems about life! These life poems are free for use on personal greeting cards, provided that the author's name and our Web site address, www.poemsource.com, appear beneath the poem. (It can be small print; just so it's there) All other uses require permission. See our Terms of Use for details.

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This 8 1/4 by 11 inch, 469-page paperback contains more than 1,000 poems we wrote for Poemsource.com. Click Here to go directly to the Amazon.com page where you can purchase it.

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34+ Poems About Life: Beautiful Journey in Verses

Beautiful poems about life will inspire, uplift, and illuminate your the path. From the ups and downs to the in-betweens, poetry has the power to heal, inspire, and elevate your spirits.

Life unfolds its tales of joy, challenges, dreams, and triumphs with each passing moment. Inspirational life poems can express the inexpressible, resonate with your soul, and help you see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Famous Poems About Life

Risk by anais nin.

And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land – And on the strangest Sea – Yet – never – in Extremity, It asked a crumb – of me.

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives might be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Life Is by Mother Teresa

Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it.

The Summer Day by Mary Oliver

Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean— the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down— who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

The Guest House by Rumi

This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, (Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate; For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

I took my Power in my Hand by Emily Dickinson

I took my Power in my Hand— And went against the World— ‘Twas not so much as David—had— But I—was twice as bold—

I aimed by Pebble—but Myself Was all the one that fell— Was it Goliath—was too large— Or was myself—too small?

Transformative Poems About Life

O me o life by walt whitman.

Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring, Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d, Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me, Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined, The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

That you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

What Is This Life by Sir Walter Raleigh

What is our life? A play of passion; Our mirth the music of division; Our mothers’ wombs the tiring-houses be, Where we are dressed for this short comedy. Heaven the judicious sharp spectator is, That sits and marks still who doth act amiss; Our graves that hide us from the searching sun Are like drawn curtains when the play is done. Thus march we, playing, to our latest rest, Only we die in earnest – that’s no jest.

Stream Of Life by Rabindranath Tagore

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

Each life converges to some centre by Emily Dickinson

Each life converges to some centre Expressed or still; Exists in every human nature A goal,

Admitted scarcely to itself, it may be, Too fair For credibility’s temerity To dare.

Adored with caution, as a brittle heaven, To reach Were hopeless as the rainbow’s raiment To touch,

Yet persevered toward, surer for the distance; How high Unto the saints’ slow diligence The sky!

Ungained, it may be, by a life’s low venture, But then, Eternity enables the endeavoring Again.

A Question by Robert Frost

A voice said, Look me in the stars And tell me truly, men of earth, If all the soul-and-body scars Were not too much to pay for birth.

Leisure by William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

Life by Sarojini Naidu

CHILDREN, ye have not lived, to you it seems Life is a lovely stalactite of dreams, Or carnival of careless joys that leap About your hearts like billows on the deep In flames of amber and of amethyst.

Children, ye have not lived, ye but exist Till some resistless hour shall rise and move Your hearts to wake and hunger after love, And thirst with passionate longing for the things That burn your brows with blood-red sufferings.

Till ye have battled with great grief and fears, And borne the conflict of dream-shattering years, Wounded with fierce desire and worn with strife, Children, ye have not lived: for this is life.

My Inner Life by Robert W. Service

‘Tis true my garments threadbare are, And sorry poor I seem; But inly I am richer far Than any poet’s dream. For I’ve a hidden life no one Can ever hope to see; A sacred sanctuary none May share with me.

Aloof I stand from out the strife, Within my heart a song; By virtue of my inner life I to myself belong. Against man—ruling I rebel, Yet do not fear defeat, For to my secret citadel I may retreat.

Oh you who have an inner life Beyond this dismal day With wars and evil rumours rife, Go blessedly your way. Your refuge hold inviolate; Unto yourself be true, And shield serene from sordid fate The Real You.

If— by Rudyard Kipling

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

The Small Claim Of Bones by Cindy Williams Gutiérrez

What my body knows is not a lie it’s not a lie I tell you it is not it’s nothing short of truth and nothing larger my past lodges in my marrow and if I wanted a transplant There’d be no match Others’ sorrows dwarf my petty traumas still these bones are mine when they creak when they moan when they whine there’s only one thing I can claim these bones are mine I tell you they are mine and kind to abandon no thing that makes this pulse no one but me.

Long Poems About Life

Life by charlotte brontë.

Life, believe, is not a dream So dark as sages say; Oft a little morning rain Foretells a pleasant day. Sometimes there are clouds of gloom, But these are transient all; If the shower will make the roses bloom, O why lament its fall? Rapidly, merrily, Life’s sunny hours flit by, Gratefully, cheerily Enjoy them as they fly! What though Death at times steps in, And calls our Best away? What though sorrow seems to win, O’er hope, a heavy sway? Yet Hope again elastic springs, Unconquered, though she fell; Still buoyant are her golden wings, Still strong to bear us well. Manfully, fearlessly, The day of trial bear, For gloriously, victoriously, Can courage quell despair!

A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist. 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.

Life Doesn’t Frighten Me Poem by Maya Angelou

Shadows on the wall Noises down the hall Life doesn’t frighten me at all

Bad dogs barking loud Big ghosts in a cloud Life doesn’t frighten me at all

Mean old Mother Goose Lions on the loose They don’t frighten me at all

Dragons breathing flame On my counterpane That doesn’t frighten me at all.

I go boo Make them shoo I make fun Way they run I won’t cry So they fly I just smile They go wild

Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Tough guys fight All alone at night Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Panthers in the park Strangers in the dark No, they don’t frighten me at all.

That new classroom where Boys all pull my hair (Kissy little girls With their hair in curls) They don’t frighten me at all.

Don’t show me frogs and snakes And listen for my scream, If I’m afraid at all It’s only in my dreams.

I’ve got a magic charm That I keep up my sleeve I can walk the ocean floor And never have to breathe.

Life doesn’t frighten me at all Not at all Not at all.

Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Opportunity by Berton Braley

With doubt and dismay you are smitten You think there’s no chance for you, son? Why, the best books haven’t been written The best race hasn’t been run, The best score hasn’t been made yet, The best song hasn’t been sung, The best tune hasn’t been played yet, Cheer up, for the world is young!

No chance? Why the world is just eager For things that you ought to create Its store of true wealth is still meagre Its needs are incessant and great, It yearns for more power and beauty More laughter and love and romance, More loyalty, labor and duty, No chance- why there’s nothing but chance!

For the best verse hasn’t been rhymed yet, The best house hasn’t been planned, The highest peak hasn’t been climbed yet, The mightiest rivers aren’t spanned, Don’t worry and fret, faint hearted, The chances have just begun, For the Best jobs haven’t been started, The Best work hasn’t been done.

The Builders by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

All are architects of Fate, Working in these walls of Time; Some with massive deeds and great, Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low; Each thing in its place is best; And what seems but idle show Strengthens and supports the rest.

For the structure that we raise, Time is with materials filled; Our to-days and yesterdays Are the blocks with which we build.

Truly shape and fashion these; Leave no yawning gaps between; Think not, because no man sees, Such things will remain unseen.

In the elder days of Art, Builders wrought with greatest care Each minute and unseen part; For the Gods see everywhere.

Let us do our work as well, Both the unseen and the seen; Make the house, where Gods may dwell, Beautiful, entire, and clean.

Else our lives are incomplete, Standing in these walls of Time, Broken stairways, where the feet Stumble as they seek to climb.

Build to-day, then, strong and sure, With a firm and ample base; And ascending and secure Shall to-morrow find its place.

Thus alone can we attain To those turrets, where the eye Sees the world as one vast plain, And one boundless reach of sky.

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

Life is a Privilege by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Life is a privilege. Its youthful days Shine with the radiance of continuous Mays. To live, to breathe, to wonder and desire, To feed with dreams the heart’s perpetual fire; To thrill with virtuous passions and to glow With great ambitions–in one hour to know The depths and heights of feeling–God! in truth How beautiful, how beautiful is youth!

Life is a privilege. Like some rare rose The mysteries of the human mind unclose. What marvels lie in earth and air and sea, What stores of knowledge wait our opening key, What sunny roads of happiness lead out Beyond the realms of indolence and doubt, And what large pleasures smile upon and bless The busy avenues of usefulness.

Life is a privilege. Though noontide fades And shadows fall along the winding glades; Though joy-blooms wither in the autumn air, Yet the sweet scent of sympathy is there. Pale sorrow leads us closer to our kind, And in the serious hours of life we find Depths in the soul of men which lend new worth And majesty to this brief span of earth.

Life is a privilege. If some sad fate Sends us alone to seek the exit gate; If men forsake us as the shadows fall, Still does the supreme privilege of all Come in that reaching upward of the soul To find the welcoming presence at the goal, And in the knowledge that our feet have trod Paths that lead from and must lead back to God.

The Room of My Life by Anne Sexton

Here, in the room of my life the objects keep changing. Ashtrays to cry into, the suffering brother of the wood walls, the forty-eight keys of the typewriter each an eyeball that is never shut, the books, each a contestant in a beauty contest, the black chair, a dog coffin made of Naugahyde, the sockets on the wall waiting like a cave of bees, the gold rug a conversation of heels and toes, the fireplace a knife waiting for someone to pick it up, the sofa, exhausted with the exertion of a whore, the phone two flowers taking root in its crotch, the doors opening and closing like sea clams, the lights poking at me, lighting up both the soil and the laugh. The windows, the starving windows that drive the trees like nails into my heart. Each day I feed the world out there although birds explode right and left. I feed the world in here too, offering the desk puppy biscuits. However, nothing is just what it seems to be. My objects dream and wear new costumes, compelled to, it seems, by all the words in my hands and the sea that bangs in my throat.

Life is Fine by Langston Hughes

I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn’t, So I jumped in and sank.

I came up once and hollered! I came up twice and cried! If that water hadn’t a-been so cold I might’ve sunk and died.

I took the elevator Sixteen floors above the ground. I thought about my baby And thought I would jump down.

I stood there and I hollered! I stood there and I cried! If it hadn’t a-been so high I might’ve jumped and died.

So since I’m still here livin’, I guess I will live on. I could’ve died for love— But for livin’ I was born

Though you may hear me holler, And you may see me cry— I’ll be dogged, sweet baby, If you gonna see me die.

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!

Suppose by E. E. Cummings

suppose Life is an old man carrying flowers on his head.

young death sits in a café smiling,a piece of money held between his thumb and first finger

(i say “will he buy flowers” to you and “Death is young life wears velour trousers life totters,life has a beard” i

say to you who are silent.—”Do you see Life?he is there and here, or that, or this or nothing or an old man 3 thirds asleep,on his head flowers,always crying to nobody something about les roses les bluets yes, will He buy? Les belles bottes—oh hear ,pas chères”)

and my love slowly answered I think so. But I think I see someone else

there is a lady,whose name is Afterwards she is sitting beside young death,is slender; likes flowers.

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats

My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk, Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk: ‘Tis not through envy of thy happy lot, But being too happy in thine happiness,— That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees In some melodious plot Of beechen green, and shadows numberless, Singest of summer in full-throated ease.

O, for a draught of vintage! that hath been Cool’d a long age in the deep-delved earth, Tasting of Flora and the country green, Dance, and Provençal song, and sunburnt mirth! O for a beaker full of the warm South, Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene, With beaded bubbles winking at the brim, And purple-stained mouth; That I might drink, and leave the world unseen, And with thee fade away into the forest dim:

Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget What thou among the leaves hast never known, The weariness, the fever, and the fret Here, where men sit and hear each other groan; Where palsy shakes a few, sad, last gray hairs, Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies; Where but to think is to be full of sorrow And leaden-eyed despairs, Where Beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes, Or new Love pine at them beyond to-morrow.

Away! away! for I will fly to thee, Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards, But on the viewless wings of Poesy, Though the dull brain perplexes and retards: Already with thee! tender is the night, And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne, Cluster’d around by all her starry Fays; But here there is no light, Save what from heaven is with the breezes blown Through verdurous glooms and winding mossy ways.

I cannot see what flowers are at my feet, Nor what soft incense hangs upon the boughs, But, in embalmed darkness, guess each sweet Wherewith the seasonable month endows The grass, the thicket, and the fruit-tree wild; White hawthorn, and the pastoral eglantine; Fast fading violets cover’d up in leaves; And mid-May’s eldest child, The coming musk-rose, full of dewy wine, The murmurous haunt of flies on summer eves.

Darkling I listen; and, for many a time I have been half in love with easeful Death, Call’d him soft names in many a mused rhyme, To take into the air my quiet breath; Now more than ever seems it rich to die, To cease upon the midnight with no pain, While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad In such an ecstasy! Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain— To thy high requiem become a sod.

Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown: Perhaps the self-same song that found a path Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, She stood in tears amid the alien corn; The same that oft-times hath Charm’d magic casements, opening on the foam Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

Forlorn! the very word is like a bell To toll me back from thee to my sole self! Adieu! the fancy cannot cheat so well As she is fam’d to do, deceiving elf. Adieu! adieu! thy plaintive anthem fades Past the near meadows, over the still stream, Up the hill-side; and now ’tis buried deep In the next valley-glades: Was it a vision, or a waking dream? Fled is that music:—Do I wake or sleep?

Dockery and Son by Philip Larkin

‘Dockery was junior to you, Wasn’t he?’ said the Dean. ‘His son’s here now.’ Death-suited, visitant, I nod. ‘And do You keep in touch with—’ Or remember how Black-gowned, unbreakfasted, and still half-tight We used to stand before that desk, to give ‘Our version’ of ‘these incidents last night’? I try the door of where I used to live:

Locked. The lawn spreads dazzlingly wide. A known bell chimes. I catch my train, ignored. Canal and clouds and colleges subside Slowly from view. But Dockery, good Lord, Anyone up today must have been born In ’43, when I was twenty-one. If he was younger, did he get this son At nineteen, twenty? Was he that withdrawn

High-collared public-schoolboy, sharing rooms With Cartwright who was killed? Well, it just shows How much … How little … Yawning, I suppose I fell asleep, waking at the fumes And furnace-glares of Sheffield, where I changed, And ate an awful pie, and walked along The platform to its end to see the ranged Joining and parting lines reflect a strong

Unhindered moon. To have no son, no wife, No house or land still seemed quite natural. Only a numbness registered the shock Of finding out how much had gone of life, How widely from the others. Dockery, now: Only nineteen, he must have taken stock Of what he wanted, and been capable Of … No, that’s not the difference: rather, how

Convinced he was he should be added to! Why did he think adding meant increase? To me it was dilution. Where do these Innate assumptions come from? Not from what We think truest, or most want to do: Those warp tight-shut, like doors. They’re more a style Our lives bring with them: habit for a while, Suddenly they harden into all we’ve got

And how we got it; looked back on, they rear Like sand-clouds, thick and close, embodying For Dockery a son, for me nothing, Nothing with all a son’s harsh patronage. Life is first boredom, then fear. Whether or not we use it, it goes, And leaves what something hidden from us chose, And age, and then the only end of age.

Ode To Broken Things by Pablo Neruda

Things get broken at home like they were pushed by an invisible, deliberate smasher. It’s not my hands or yours It wasn’t the girls with their hard fingernails or the motion of the planet. It wasn’t anything or anybody

It wasn’t the wind It wasn’t the orange-colored noontime Or night over the earth It wasn’t even the nose or the elbow Or the hips getting bigger or the ankle or the air. The plate broke, the lamp fell All the flower pots tumbled over one by one. That pot

which overflowed with scarlet in the middle of October, it got tired from all the violets and another empty one rolled round and round and round all through winter until it was only the powder of a flowerpot, a broken memory, shining dust.

And that clock whose sound was the voice of our lives, the secret thread of our weeks, which released one by one, so many hours for honey and silence for so many births and jobs, that clock also fell and its delicate blue guts vibrated among the broken glass its wide heart unsprung.

Life goes on grinding up glass, wearing out clothes making fragments breaking down forms and what lasts through time is like an island on a ship in the sea, perishable surrounded by dangerous fragility by merciless waters and threats.

Let’s put all our treasures together — the clocks, plates, cups cracked by the cold — into a sack and carry them to the sea and let our possessions sink into one alarming breaker that sounds like a river. May whatever breaks be reconstructed by the sea with the long labor of its tides. So many useless things which nobody broke but which got broken anyway.

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Short Poems & Quotes

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11 Life Journey Poems

The Journey Poet Unknown You got to have some trouble in this rough old world of ours, You got to fight the bumblebee, sometimes to pick the flowers; Your going find fin' a heap of roughness in the rocky road, Before you get what you can rest and lay aside the load. But be humble, and don't grumble, Because you sometimes slip and stumble, And seems to drop behind the rest of all the hustlin' throng. Don't stop an' start a-whining And a-whimpering and a pinning, But pick your feet up, honey, and go traveling along. You may have fears of troubles that will hit you hard someday, But they're bound to catch you if you halt along the way. You got to keep a moving. Some are fast and some are slow. But all that's looked for from you is to do the best you know. So don't you wait and worry, If you fall down in your hurry, And never mind the chaffing And the hollering and the laughing, Just pull yourself together as you hum a little song, But pick your feet up, honey, and go travelling along.

A Journey Poet: Dr. M. Coleman Harris Life is like a journey Taken on a train With a pair of travellers At each windowpane. I may sit beside you All the journey through, Or I may sit elsewhere Never knowing you. But if fate should make me To sit by your side, Let’s be pleasant travelers; It’s so short a ride.
A Purpose Poet: Catherine Pulsifer Looking around the world, big and small, Every one of us is on a journey to help all. A purpose to fulfill, a role to play in society. An opportunity to excel, not for anxiety! We have special gifts, each one of us; Our life is truly a precious trust! On life's journey find love and grace; Life is meant to be lived, it is not a race.

Life's Journey Poet: Ella Wheeler Wilcox As we speed out of youth's sunny station The track seems to shine in the light, But it suddenly shoots over chasms Or sinks into tunnels of night. And the hearts that were brave in the morning Are filled with repining and fears, As they pause at the City of Sorrow Or pass through the Valley of Tears. But the road of this perilous journey The hand of the Master has made; With all its discomforts and dangers, We need not be sad or afraid. Paths leading from light into darkness, Ways plunging from gloom to despair, Wind out through the tunnels of midnight To fields that are blooming and fair. Though the rocks and the shadows surround us, Though we catch not one gleam of the day, Above us fair cities are laughing, And dipping white feet in some bay. And always, eternal, for ever, Down over the hills in the west, The last final end of our journey, There lies the great Station of Rest. 'Tis the Grand Central point of all railways, All roads unite here when they end; 'Tis the final resort of all tourists, All rival lines meet here and blend. All tickets, all seasons, all passes, If stolen or begged for or bought, On whatever road or division, Will bring you at last to this spot. If you pause at the City of Trouble, Or wait in the Valley of Tears, Be patient, the train will move onward, And rush down the track of the years. Whatever the place is you seek for, Whatever your game or your quest, You shall come at the last with rejoicing To the beautiful City of Rest. You shall store all your baggage of worries, You shall feel perfect peace in this realm, You shall sail with old friends on fair waters, With joy and delight at the helm. You shall wander in cool, fragrant gardens With those who have loved you the best, And the hopes that were lost in life's journey You shall find in the City of Rest.

Silver And Gold Poet: Unknown Get of this life I shall never take Things of silver and gold I make. All that I cherish and hoard away, After I leave, on earth must stay. All that I gather and all that I keep, I must leave behind when I fall asleep. And I often wonder what I shall own In the other life when I pass along. What shall they find and what shall they see In the soul that answers the call for me? Shall the Great Judge learn, when my task is through, That my spirit has gathered some riches, too? Or shall at the last it be mine to find That all I'd worked for I'd left behind?
Roses and Sunshine Poet: Edgar A. Guest Rough is the road I am journeying now, Heavy the burden I'm bearing to-day; But I'm humming a song, as I wander along, And I smile at the roses that nod by the way. Red roses sweet, Blooming there at my feet, Just dripping with honey and perfume and cheer; What a weakling I'd be If I tried not to see The joy and the comfort you bring to us here. Just tramping along o'er the highway of life, Knowing not what's ahead but still doing my best; And I sing as I go, for my soul seems to know In the end I shall come to the valley of rest. With the sun in my face And the roses to grace The roads that I travel, what have I to fear? What a coward I'd be If I tried not to see The roses of hope and the sunshine of cheer.

Our Journey Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, © 2020 Our journey through life has its ups and downs Sometimes feelings of being sad and others of a clown We all have highs and the lows Many happy times and times of sorrow. But there is one factor that makes a difference It is the attitude of your preference. Do you look for the good or do you see the bad Your attitude determines whether you're happy or sad. Our journey can be negative or it can be positive Is just depends on our life perspective. No matter what happens, no matter the time Find the good and upward you will climb. Life is too short to sit and moan Seize the good and it can change your life tone Our journey through life can be a happy one A positive attitude can bring more fun!

Life And Moods Poet: Patience Strong Moods will lead you such a dance - If you just give them half a chance. They'll lift you up and fling you down. They'll turn a smile into a frown. They'll drive you into black despairs. They'll creep upon you unaware... Your friends will drop you one by one - no wonder, for there's not much fun - in people who are bright and gay - and dull, and bored with life, next day... So don't be swayed by each new mood... Just throw them off, or they'll intrude - and spoil some bright and happy hour... For you, yourself, give them power.

It's The Journey That's Important... Poet: John McLeod Life, sometimes so wearying Is worth its weight in gold The experience of traveling Lends a wisdom that is old Beyond our 'living memory' A softly spoken prayer: "It's the journey that's important, Not the getting there!" Ins and outs and ups and downs Life's road meanders aimlessly? Or so it seems, but somehow Leads us where we need to be, And being simply human We oft question and compare... "Is the journey so important Or the getting there?" And thus it's always been That question pondered down the ages By simple men with simple ways To wise and ancient sages... How sweet then, quietly knowing Reaching destination fair: "It's the journey that's important, Not the getting there!"

it's the journey that's important, not the getting there!

These Would I Keep Poet: Lida Marie Erwin These would I keep: My faith in men, Though one may stumble now and then - A faith which helps me still to see What God intends a man to be. A cheery heart, in spite of fate; The strength to work, the patience to wait; A hand that lifts a brother up And shares with him the bitter cup. A spirit calm, despite the storm. Which sees through clouds, the stalwart form Of Him who stilled the maddened wave - Is ever near to help and save. The optimism childhood had; The simple trust that made me glad; The beauty of life in its crimson dawn - These would I keep as I journey on.

The Light Of A Cheerful Heart Poet: Max Ehrmann I tell you that you and I and the commonest person are all journeying the same way, hemmed in by the same narrow path, leading to the eternal years. We pride ourselves over our particular superiority; but really there is little difference between us; And in this journey over the thousand hills and valleys called life, he is wisest who is patient where the way is hard, has faith when he does not understand, and carries into the dark places the light of a cheerful heart.

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Life as a Journey (poems)

The span of life.

Robert Frost

The old dog barks backwards without getting up. I can remember when he was a pup.

Life is curve in the shape of a flower, a curved trajectory that loops back on itself repeatedly until the last petal falls.

John McLeod

It’s the little bit of sunshine Lighting up the dullest day, That brings a glow of pleasure As we journey on Life’s way. It’s the simple things that please us Like a willing kindness done, That son blow away each storm-cloud ‘Till once more we see the sun.

The life we have is very great

Emily Dickinson

The Life we have is very great. The Life that we shall see Surpasses it, we know, because It is Infinity. But when all Space has been beheld And all Dominion shown The smallest Human Heart’s extent Reduces it to none.

What Are Heavy?

Christina Rossetti

What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow; What are brief? Today and tomorrow; What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth; What are deep? The ocean and truth

Life has many ups and downs, Loving smiles and also frowns. Good events and some are bad, Happy emotions, others mad. It can be a bumpy ride, How you handle it, you decide!

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I know not whence I came, I know not whither I go; But the fact stands clear that I am here In this world of pleasure and woe And out of the mist and murk Another truth shines plain – It is my power each day and hour To add to its joy or its pain.

Maya Angelou

I keep on dying again. Veins collapse, opening like the Small fists of sleeping Children. Memory of old tombs, Rotting flesh and worms do Not convince me against The challenge. The years And cold defeat live deep in Lines along my face. They dull my eyes, yet I keep on dying, Because I love to live.

Life and Death

Life begins with something so small, Innocent baby, could barely crawl. Beautiful toddler, grows into a child, Those teenage years, are often quite wild.

During adulthood, we all try to find, Unique experiences, rewire each mind. For several decades, we become so busy, This is life, sometimes it’s dizzy.

Years go by, we continue to age, We approach, our final page. The meaning of life we understand. Death converts, our body to sand.

Ignorant Before the Heavens Of My Life

Rainer Maria Rilke

Ignorant before the heavens of my life, I stand and gaze in wonder. Oh the vastness of the stars. Their rising and descent. How still. As if I didn’t exist. Do I have any share in this? Have I somehow dispensed with their pure effect? Does my blood’s ebb and flow change with their changes? Let me put aside every desire, every relationship except this one, so that my heart grows used to its farthest spaces. Better that it live fully aware, in the terror of its stars, than as if protected, soothed by what is near.

Foundation of Life

Dorsey Baker

If you are always looking for fault, that is what you will find- If you are always looking for fault, that is what you will find- and you’ll never have peace of mind. If you are always looking for the bad, you’ll never see the good, If you are always looking for the bad, you’ll never see the good, surely must be clearly understood- Don’t look for the shadow and the sun you will see, Don’t look for the shadow and the sun you will see. and a better human being you will surely be!

The Ship of Death

D.H. Lawrence

Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion. The apples falling like great drops of dew| to bruise themselves an exit from themselves. And it is time to go, to bid farewell to one’s own self, and find an exit from the fallen self …

On a Journey

Herman Hesse

Don’t be downcast, soon the night will come, When we can see the cool moon laughing in secret Over the faint countryside, And we rest, hand in hand.

Don’t be downcast, the time will soon come When we can have rest. Our small crosses will stand On the bright edge of the road together, And rain fall, and snow fall, And the winds come and go.

What Is Our Life?

Sir Walter Raleigh

What is our life? The play of passion. Our mirth? The music of division: Our mothers’ wombs the tiring-houses be, Where we are dressed for life’s short comedy. The earth the stage; Heaven the spectator is, Who sits and views whosoe’er doth act amiss. The graves which hide us from the scorching sun Are like drawn curtains when the play is done. Thus playing post we to our latest rest, And then we die in earnest, not in jest.

For the Highs and Lows

Morgan Harper Nicholas

For the highs and lows, and moments in between, mountains and valleys, and rivers and streams, for where you are now and where you will go, for “I’ve always known” and “I told you so” for “nothing is happening” and “all has gone wrong” it’s here in this journey, you will learn to be strong you will get where you’re going, leading you to where you belong.

Beautiful Things

Lucile B. Ballard

As we hurry along on life’s journey today With the joy and the sorrow it brings, And never a thought what we pass on the way Let us look for the beautiful things. There is music that’s free, that will surely beguile ‘Tis the song of the bird as he sings, And the sun-kissed breeze makes us linger awhile. Just to look for the beautiful things. Let us close our eyes to the faults of a friend Drop them deep in oblivion’s springs, As we travel along to life’s golden end We can always find beautiful things.

Mother Theresa

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.

Our Journey had advanced

Our journey had advanced – Our feet were almost come To that odd Fork in Being’s Road – Eternity – by Term – Our pace took sudden awe – Our feet – reluctant – led – Before – were Cities – but Between – The Forest of the Dead – Retreat – was out of Hope – Behind – a Sealed Route – Eternity’s +White Flag – +Before – And God – at every Gate

The Parents Tao Te Ching

William Martin

Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself.

Henry van Dyke

Let me but live my life from year to year, With forward face and unreluctant soul; Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal; Not mourning for the things that disappear In the dim past, nor holding back in fear From what the future veils; but with a whole And happy heart, that pays its toll To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.

So let the way wind up the hill or down, O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy: Still seeking what I sought when but a boy, New friendship, high adventure, and a crown, My heart will keep the courage of the quest, And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.

Song of The Open Road

Walt Whitman

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, Strong and content I travel the open road.

The earth, that is sufficient, I do not want the constellations any nearer, I know they are very well where they are, I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens, I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go, I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them, I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.)

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Journey Into the Interior

Theodore Roethke

In the long journey out of the self, There are many detours, washed-out interrupted raw places Where the shale slides dangerously And the back wheels hang almost over the edge At the sudden veering, the moment of turning. Better to hug close, wary of rubble and falling stones. The arroyo cracking the road, the wind-bitten buttes, the canyons, Creeks swollen in midsummer from the flash-flood roaring into the narrow valley. Reeds beaten flat by wind and rain, Grey from the long winter, burnt at the base in late summer. — Or the path narrowing, Winding upward toward the stream with its sharp stones, The upland of alder and birchtrees, Through the swamp alive with quicksand, The way blocked at last by a fallen fir-tree, The thickets darkening, The ravines ugly.

Life is a Journey

Life is but a stopping place, a pause in what’s to be, A resting place along the road, to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys, different paths along the way, We all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay…

Our destination is a place, far greater than we know. For some the journey’s quicker, for some the journey’s slow.

And when the journey finally ends, we’ll claim a great reward, And find an everlasting peace, together with the Lord

Journey Home

Rabindranath Tagore

The time that my journey takes is long and the way of it long.

I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light, and pursued my voyage through the wildernesses of worlds leaving my track on many a star and planet.

It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself, and that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter simplicity of a tune.

The traveler has to knock at every alien door to come to his own, and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.

My eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said `Here art thou!’

The question and the cry `Oh, where?’ melt into tears of a thousand streams and deluge the world with the flood of the assurance `I am!’

Breaking Surface

Let no one keep you from your journey, no rabbi or priest, no mother who wants you to dig for treasures she misplaced, no father who won’t let one life be enough, no lover who measures their worth by what you might give up, no voice that tells you in the night it can’t be done. Let nothing dissuade you from seeing what you see or feeling the winds that make you want to dance alone or go where no one has yet to go. You are the only explorer. Your heart, the unreadable compass. Your soul, the shore of a promise too great to be ignored.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Come, my friends, ’Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down: It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’ We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

The Journey

Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice— though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. “Mend my life!” each voice cried. But you didn’t stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do— determined to save the only life you could save.

Come, seek, for seeking is the foundation of fortune: every success depends upon focusing the heart. Unconcerned with the business of the world, keep saying with all your soul, “Ku, ku,” like the dove… Even though you’re not equipped, keep searching… Whoever you see engaged in search, become her friend and cast your head in front of her, for choosing to be a neighbor of seekers, you become one yourself… Day and night you are a traveler in a ship. You are under the protection of a life-giving spirit… Step aboard the ship and set sail, like the soul going towards the soul’s Beloved. Without hands or feet, travel toward Timelessness just as spirits flee from non-existence. …By God, don’t linger in any spiritual benefit you have gained, but yearn for more like one suffering from illness whose thirst for water is never quenched… Leave the seat of honor behind: the Journey is your seat of honor.

What Life Should Be

Pat A. Fleming

To learn while still a child What this life is meant to be. To know it goes beyond myself, It’s so much more than me. To overcome the tragedies, To survive the hardest times. To face those moments filled with pain, And still manage to be kind. To fight for those who can’t themselves, To always share my light. With those who wander in the dark, To love with all my might. To still stand up with courage, Though standing on my own. To still get up and face each day, Even when I feel alone. To try to understand the ones That no one cares to know. And make them feel some value When the world has let them go. To be an anchor, strong and true, That person loyal to the end. To be a constant source of hope To my family and my friends. To live a life of decency, To share my heart and soul. To always say I’m sorry When I’ve harmed both friend and foe. To be proud of whom I’ve tried to be, And this life I chose to live. To make the most of every day By giving all I have to give. To me that’s what this life should be, To me that’s what it’s for. To take what God has given me And make it so much more To live a life that matters, To be someone of great worth. To love and be loved in return And make my mark on Earth.

Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

The Train of Life

At birth, we board the train and meet our parents, and we believe they will always travel b your side.

As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life.

However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.

Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum.

Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don’t realise they vacated their seats.

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.

Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down.

So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.

It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you all a joyful journey.

Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Rumi Poems About Life: A Journey to Enlightenment

Rumi, the renowned 13th-century Persian poet and mystic, continues to captivate readers around the world with his deep insights into the human condition and spirituality. His poems about life are filled with profound wisdom, guiding us on a transformative journey towards self-discovery and enlightenment. In this article, we will explore a selection of Rumi's most inspiring poems that touch upon various aspects of life, from love and loss to finding purpose and connecting with the divine.

The Journey of Love

The dance of life, connecting with the divine.

"Love is the bridge between you and everything."

Rumi's poems often center around the theme of love, reminding us of its transformative power to unite souls and bridge the gap between individuals. Love, for Rumi, is not limited to romantic relationships but encompasses a universal force that connects us to everything in existence.

One of his most famous verses, "Love is the bridge between you and everything," beautifully encapsulates this idea. It reminds us that love is not merely an emotion but a divine essence that can help us transcend our limitations and connect with the world around us.

"Your task is not to seek for love but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."

Another powerful poem by Rumi emphasizes the importance of self-reflection in the journey of love. It invites us to look inward and identify the barriers we have constructed within ourselves that hinder our ability to fully experience and embrace love. By recognizing and dismantling these barriers, we open ourselves up to love's transformative potential and allow it to flow freely through us.

"Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood."

Rumi's poetry often encourages us to embrace life's challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and self-discovery. This poem reminds us that even amid our struggles and pain, we can find solace and liberation through the metaphorical dance of life. It urges us to keep moving forward, to dance with our wounds and embrace the vitality that flows through our veins.

"Be empty of worrying. Think of who created thought! Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?"

In another powerful poem, Rumi invites us to let go of our worries and anxieties. He reminds us that the source of our mental imprisonment lies within ourselves, and we have the power to break free at any moment. By recognizing the vastness of possibilities that lie beyond our self-imposed limitations, we can unlock the door to true liberation and experience the boundless joy of life.

"Do you know what you are? You are a manuscript of a divine letter. You are a mirror reflecting a noble face. This universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you are already that."

Rumi's poetry often emphasizes the concept of divinity within each individual. This particular poem beautifully captures the essence of our interconnectedness with the divine. It encourages us to recognize our inherent potential and divinity, reminding us that everything we seek externally can be found within ourselves.

"The wound is the place where the Light enters you."

In one of his most profound verses, Rumi reminds us that our deepest wounds can lead us towards spiritual awakening. Rather than avoiding pain or seeing it as a source of suffering, he encourages us to embrace our wounds as opportunities for growth and illumination. It is through these very wounds that the light of truth and wisdom can enter our lives, guiding us towards a deeper understanding of ourselves and our connection to the divine.

Rumi's poems about life continue to resonate with readers across centuries, offering timeless guidance and wisdom. Through his words, we are reminded of the transformative power of love, the importance of embracing life's challenges, and the divinity that resides within each of us. Rumi's poetic journey invites us to embark on our own path of self-discovery, leading us towards a deeper understanding of life's mysteries and the ultimate truth. Let his words inspire and guide you as you navigate the complexities of existence, and may you find enlightenment and inner peace along the way.

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Poems about Life Experiences

We are the sum of experiences that we encounter as we go through life. Day to day struggles and triumphs are experienced by all of the world's creatures. As human beings, when we encounter a challenge, we have freedom to choose how to react. Every decision that we make leads us down a different road. We will never come to exactly the same crossroads. Every decision that we make has significance. The tiniest choice that we make reverberates throughout the entire universe.

96 Most Popular Life Poems

1 Clinching The Bolt By Edgar A. Guest

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2 Little Things By Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney

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3 Destined To Fly By Ashley N. Hyder

Poem About Overcoming Addiction

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4 The True Meaning Of Life By Patricia A Fleming

What's Important In Life

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5 Just Wait For The Sun By Lisa Marks

Poem About Better Days Will Come

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6 The Strongest Girl I Ever Knew By Ronald Doe

Inspirational Poem About Disabled Sister

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7 You Will Never See Me Fall By Joyce Alcantara

Poem About Never Giving Up

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8 Changing The Past By Donna

Poem About Letting Go Of The Past

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9 Live Life By Livelovelaugh

Uplifting Poem On Cherishing Every Moment

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10 My Personal Quest By Patricia A Fleming

Searching To Find Ourselves

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11 Finding Hope By Patricia A Fleming

Overcoming Fear In Life

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12 Pain Ends By Katy A. Brown

Encouraging Poem To Let Go Of What Hurts You

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13 Time By Joe Massocco

Poem About How Time Flies

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14 Each Moment Is Precious By Patricia A Fleming

The Power Of The Present

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15 My Credo Of Life By Patricia A Fleming

Poem About Living Life To Its Fullest

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16 Before I... By Insiya K. Patanwala

Accepting Who You Are

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17 This Is A Daily Reminder By Nicolette

Uplifting Poem About Living A Better Life

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18 Rise By Sagar Yadav

I Will Rise

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19 A Fleeting Image By Avi Fleischer

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Explore the Journey of the Just with Christian Poems About Life

Christian Poems About Life: Journey of the Just

In the journey of life, many seek to embody the principles of justice and righteousness as a means to fulfill their spiritual aspirations. This quest for moral integrity and divine approval is often encapsulated in the notion of the “Journey of the Just”. It is a concept that holds profound significance in the Christian faith, defining what it means to be just in the eyes of God and how this journey impacts our daily lives.

In this article, we delve into the essence of the Journey of the Just, exploring its importance and the profound themes it evokes in Christian poems about life. We also uncover how these poems serve as beacons of encouragement, comfort, and inspiration, guiding individuals on their own paths of righteousness.

We take a closer look at notable examples of Christian poems about life that epitomize the Journey of the Just, shedding light on their timeless messages of faith, love, endurance, and eternal promise. Join us as we embark on a soul-stirring exploration of the profound and uplifting world of Christian poetry, and discover how it can illuminate our own journeys toward righteousness and spiritual fulfillment.

Key Takeaways:

Being just means living a life that is in alignment with God’s will and commandments.
The journey of the just is important because it leads us towards a closer relationship with God and ultimately, eternal life.
Christian poems about life can serve as a source of encouragement, comfort and reminder of God’s promises as we navigate our journey of being just.

11 Inspiring Christian Poems About Life

1. the journey’s light.

Life’s journey, long and winding,

In His word, guidance finding.

Through trials and joys, His love our guide,

In His footsteps, we stride with pride.

2. Seasons of the Soul

Seasons change, from spring to fall,

God’s handiwork, through it all.

In every season, His grace we see,

A reminder of how life can be.

3. The Potter’s Vessel

Molded by the Potter’s hand,

A vessel for His purpose, grand.

Through life’s fires, stronger we stand,

Shaped by His will, in every land.

Did You Know?

The metaphor of God as the Potter and His followers as clay is derived from Scripture, illustrating God’s sovereignty and our transformation under His guidance. This imagery, particularly highlighted in Isaiah 64:8, symbolizes how God shapes individuals for His purposes, teaching us to trust in His plan even when we face life’s fires. This concept is explored in-depth at GotQuestions.org , providing insights into how this relationship impacts Christian faith and life.

4. The Tapestry We Weave

Life, a tapestry, we weave each day,

With threads of choices, in display.

Guided by His loving hand,

A beautiful pattern, at His command.

5. The Beacon of Hope

In life’s storms, a beacon bright,

Hope in Christ, our eternal light.

Never fading, always true,

Guiding us, our whole life through.

The concept of Christ as a “Beacon of Hope” is central to Christian faith, offering guidance and light in times of darkness. This idea reflects the biblical theme that Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12), promising hope and salvation to those who follow Him. This metaphor is further discussed on Christianity.com , which delves into how Jesus’ light guides believers through life’s challenges, illuminating the path to God’s presence.

6. The Builder’s Plan

Our lives, a building, stone by stone,

With Christ as the cornerstone.

In His design, we find our place,

Built on faith, hope, and grace.

7. The Harvest of Life

Life’s a field, ripe for the harvest,

In work and love, we are tested.

Sowing seeds of faith and deed,

In Christ, we find all we need.

The “Harvest” metaphor in Christianity is often used to describe the gathering of spiritual fruits and the importance of spreading faith. This imagery is based on passages like Matthew 9:37-38, where Jesus speaks of the plentiful harvest and the need for laborers in the field of faith. This concept emphasizes the role of believers in sharing the gospel and nurturing spiritual growth within themselves and others. To learn more about the significance of the harvest in Christian doctrine, visit BibleStudyTools.com for a comprehensive overview.

8. The River’s Course

Life, a river, flowing free,

Guided by God’s sovereignty.

Through calm and rapids, His presence near,

In every moment, His love clear.

9. The Mountain Climb

Life’s a mountain, steep and high,

With faith in God, we aim for the sky.

Each step taken, a prayer in stride,

In His strength, we abide.

10. The Garden Grown

In the garden of life, we are sown,

Nurtured by love, His mercy shown.

Fruits of the Spirit, in us grown,

To the world, His goodness known.

11. The Pathway Home

Life’s a journey, on a pathway home,

Guided by His light, never alone.

With every step, His love we see,

Leading us to eternity.

What is the Journey of the Just?

The journey of the just is a profound expedition through the trials and triumphs of life, encompassing the pursuit of righteousness and faith amidst the waves of temptation and sin.

It is a path lined with thorns and obstacles, where one’s faith is tested, and each step forward requires unwavering determination. The struggles only serve to forge a stronger, more resilient soul, as each challenge overcome becomes a testament to the inner strength and conviction that guides the just.

The journey unfolds as a tapestry of lessons and blessings, shaping the spirit with humility, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to righteousness .

What Does it Mean to be Just in the Eyes of God?

Being just in the eyes of God entails upholding righteousness, resisting temptation, and embracing a life guided by unwavering faith amidst the turbulent waves of worldly trials.

Righteousness is the precious compass that steers the moral journey of individuals, directing their thoughts and actions towards the greater good. It is the embodiment of integrity, virtue, and ethical uprightness. Such individuals stand firm against the allure of temptations, staying rooted in their commitment to their beliefs and values.

The path of righteousness is not always smooth, as trials and tribulations test the depth of one’s faith. But those who walk justly find the sustaining power of their faith, which uplifts them even in the darkest of moments. The journey of righteousness is a spiritual pilgrimage, a pursuit of harmony between one’s principles and the will of God .

What is the Importance of the Journey of the Just?

The journey of the just holds paramount importance as it shapes the moral character , spiritual fortitude, and enduring faith of individuals in navigating the tempestuous waters of life’s trials and temptations.

Like a sturdy vessel on stormy seas, the journey of the just molds their resilience while instilling a deep-rooted sense of righteousness and ethical conduct. Their footsteps, guided by the flame of integrity , leave imprints of wisdom and compassion, sustaining the guiding light for others in darkness.

Through trials and tribulations, they rise like the Phoenix, embracing adversities as opportunities for transcendence, adorning their souls with the jewels of courage, humility, and empathy . The journey is a lyrical symphony of tribulations turned into triumphs, encapsulating the very essence of the human spirit’s indomitable nature.

How Does the Journey of the Just Impact Our Daily Lives?

The journey of the just exerts a profound impact on our daily lives, infusing them with purpose , resilience , and the radiant hope that springs forth from unwavering faith and steadfast perseverance.

Every step taken in alignment with righteousness and love becomes a testament to the strength of character and depth of conviction. It shapes our interactions, coloring them with compassion and understanding, nurturing relationships and fostering a sense of harmony amidst the chaos of the world.

Through the trials and triumphs, the journey molds us, sculpting a spirit that remains unwavering in its pursuit of truth and righteousness.

What are Some Themes Explored in Christian Poems About Life?

Christian poems about life delve into themes of unwavering faith, God’s unconditional love , the tumultuous struggles of earthly existence, and the promise of eternity that transcends temporal limitations.

These poems often express the faith that anchors believers through the storms of life, portraying the unwavering trust in a higher power that guides their steps. They depict love as a transformative force, embracing the vulnerable aspects of human nature and illuminating the path towards divine grace.

The struggles portrayed in these verses reflect the raw, unfiltered realities of human existence, showing the resilience and perseverance required to navigate through tribulations. Christian poems also offer a vision of eternity, painting a vivid landscape beyond worldly constraints, where hope and peace reign eternal.

The Power of Faith

The power of faith, a recurring theme in Christian poems, serves as a beacon of hope amidst life’s trials, illuminating the path of the faithful with unwavering assurance and divine promise.

Often depicted through verses rich with symbolism and imagery, faith becomes a guiding force, akin to a steady anchor amidst the storms of uncertainty. It transcends the temporal worldly woes, lifting the spirit beyond the confines of earthly limitations. Christian poets weave their verses with the golden threads of faith, depicting it as a source of strength, a source of persevering hope.

God’s Unconditional Love

Christian poems beautifully encapsulate the profound depth of God’s unconditional love , intertwining themes of divine affection and the timeless embrace of eternity within the poetic tapestry of faith.

Their verses resonate with unwavering devotion and the unfathomable grace that emanate from a higher realm, transcending earthly limitations and offering solace to weary souls.

These timeless expressions of divine affection and sacred tenderness have the power to uplift spirits, serving as a reminder of the unwavering presence of God’s love in every aspect of life.

The Struggles of Life

Christian poems eloquently address the poignant struggles of life, depicting the arduous journey of faith amidst the trials and temptations that beset the human spirit, resonating with timeless relevance and empathy.

Their verses capture the intrinsic connection between adversity and spiritual growth, painting a vivid portrayal of the human experience. Through the imagery of storms and valleys, they convey the unwavering resolve and perseverance of the faithful soul, inspiring resilience in the face of tribulations and unfold the transformative power of hope and determination .

The Promise of Eternity

Christian poems vividly convey the promise of eternity , weaving tapestries of hope, faith, and enduring love that transcend the temporal confines of earthly existence, offering solace and inspiration to the faithful.

These timeless verses serve as guiding beacons, casting a gentle glow upon the turbulent seas of life, assuring believers of a divine plan that extends far beyond the boundaries of mortal comprehension.

Through the delicate interplay of words and emotions, poets infuse their verses with the promise of an everlasting covenant, a sanctuary of unwavering devotion and steadfast grace.

How Can Christian Poems About Life Help Us on Our Journey of the Just?

Christian poems about life serve as spiritual compasses , guiding and comforting us on the journey of the just, infusing our hearts with abiding faith, steadfast hope, and the unwavering assurance of God’s promises.

These poetic expressions encapsulate profound truths, embodying timeless wisdom and solace within their verses. Through imagery and metaphor, they resonate deeply, offering solace amidst trials and tribulations, illuminating the path with divine light .

Their gentle rhythm and soothing cadence carry the weary soul, reminding us of God’s abiding love and the enduring sanctity of life. In moments of doubt, they stand as pillars of strength, reinforcing the steadfastness of spiritual fortitude .

Providing Encouragement and Inspiration

Christian poems serve as poignant vessels of encouragement and inspiration, kindling the flame of hope and fortitude within the hearts of those embarking on the journey of the just, resonating with timeless relevance and empathetic understanding.

These poems weave remarkable tales of triumph over adversity, offering solace to weary souls and guiding them towards inner strength and resilience. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, they evoke a profound sense of faith and optimism, revitalizing the spirit and awakening the dormant courage within.

Christian poems transcend the boundaries of time and space, offering a lifeline of inspiration to individuals grappling with life’s myriad challenges, igniting a spark of hope that shines brightly amid darkness.

Offering Comfort and Hope

Christian poems tenderly offer solace and hope, becoming steadfast companions on the arduous journey of the just, weaving tapestries of comfort , assurance , and the enduring light of faith.

With each carefully crafted verse, these poems navigate through the depths of human experience, unwrapping the complexities of the soul and casting them in the gentle glow of divine understanding. They stand as timeless lighthouses, guiding the weary traveler through the storms of doubt and fear, inspiring resilience, grace , and an unwavering commitment to hope. Embracing the essence of love and divine providence , Christian poems graciously carry the whispers of the sacred, gently guiding hearts towards peace and renewal .

Reminding Us of God’s Promises

Christian poems serve as poignant reminders of God’s enduring promises , fortifying the hearts of the faithful on the journey of the just, resonating with the unwavering assurance of divine faithfulness and grace.

These beautiful verses encapsulate the essence of hope and renewal, allowing believers to draw strength from the unfaltering love and constancy promised by the Almighty . Through eloquent imagery, they paint vivid portraits of divine providence and serve as vessels of solace in times of trial, infusing the spirit with reverence and gratitude .

Examples of Christian Poems About Life: Journey of the Just

Christian poems about life offer eloquent expressions of the journey of the just, resonating with themes of unwavering faith, enduring hope, and the timeless journey towards the radiant shores of divine grace .

The works of renowned poets such as John Donne and George Herbert beautifully convey the spiritual journey through their verses. Donne’s ‘A Hymn to God the Father’ and Herbert’s ‘The Collar’ encapsulate the struggles, doubts, and ultimate surrender to God’s divine plan . These poems weave intricate tapestries of human experience, alluding to the immense power of faith .

The profound work of Emily Dickinson, particularly ‘Hope is the thing with feathers,’ resonates with readers, exuding a sense of unyielding optimism amidst life’s trials.

“The Narrow Road” by Helen Steiner Rice

The Narrow Road by Helen Steiner Rice beautifully encapsulates the arduous yet redemptive journey of the just, offering poignant reflections on faith, hope, and the unwavering devotion to the path of righteousness.

The poem invokes a profound sense of spiritual pilgrimage, beckoning the reader to contemplate the narrow road symbolic of the Christian’s pursuit of virtue and divine truth. It weaves a tapestry of allegorical images, elegantly articulating the trials and triumphs encountered along the narrow road of life. Each stanza unfolds like a meditative melody, inviting introspection and spiritual communion. Rice’s masterful use of language and imagery mirrors the resilience and perseverance essential on this demanding yet enriching journey towards spiritual fulfillment.

“Footprints in the Sand” by Mary Stevenson

Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson poignantly portrays the indelible presence of faith and hope in the journey of the just, resonating with timeless echoes of divine guidance and unwavering companionship.

Through its poignant imagery and profound symbolism, the poem encapsulates the essence of facing trials and tribulations with steadfast belief in a higher power. It elucidates the notion that even in the most challenging moments, divine grace carries the burden, leaving behind a trail of comfort and support.

The footprints, etched in the sands of time, serve as a powerful metaphor for the enduring guidance and unwavering love that sustains the weary traveler.

“The Journey” by Unknown Author

\”The Journey\” by an unknown author paints a poignant portrait of life’s pilgrimage, intertwining threads of faith, hope, and the enduring journey towards the radiant shores of divine grace and love.

The unnamed poet weaves a tapestry of spiritual imagery, drawing parallels between the human experience and the biblical concept of traversing through valleys and ascending to mountain peaks. The poem captures the transcendent nature of the human soul, depicting the challenges, triumphs, and the unfaltering yearning for fulfillment in the presence of the divine .

The Christian symbolism embedded within the verses conveys the pursuit of righteousness, the battle against inner turmoil, and the redemption that awaits those who persevere in their quest for truth .

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The Journey

By mary oliver.

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice— though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. "Mend my life!" each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do— determined to save the only life you could save.

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Spiritual Journey Poems and the 3 Stages of Life

I plan to do a series around my favorite spiritual journey poems. Let me begin by sharing my favourite spiritual journey poem that takes you through the 3 stages of life. This is the poem by the mystic Hafiz and is entitled That Sweet Moon Language .

It is a poem about the spiritual journey from darkness into light. Here is the outline for this article on the poem

Header – Spiritual Journey Poems Menu

What is Spiritual Poetry
Spiritual Journey Poem.
3 Stages of A Spiritual Life.
Stage 1 – Go on Admit It.
Stage 2 – Think on This.
Stage 3 – Why not Become.
Recommendations

With this outline let us begin our adventure into the language of heart awakening that is spiritual poetry.

The work of a poet is to pour Light into a cup and hold it to your Holy parched mouth – Hafiz

When I write about topics that I love I like to create my own definition for those purposes of exploring such topic.

Here is my answer to the question “What is Spiritual Poetry?”

Spiritual poetry that awakens a longing in the heart for the KNOWING of your connection to the Divine. Hafiz says of the work of a poet. “The work of a poet is to pour Light into a cup and hold it to you holy parched mouth.

The key aspects pointed to in this definition are the words, awakening, longing, knowing, connection and Divine.

Spiritual poetry flows from the longing of the heart.

It is written by those who are mystics or who are would be mystics. A mystic is one who has had a direct revelation of the Ground of Being that is referred to by the words Divine, God, Source etc.

Still, think on this. This Great Pull to Connect – Hafiz of Shiraz (Sufi Mystic Poet – 1315-1390)

Here is the spiritual journey poem by the Sufi mystic Hafiz of Shiraz.

That Sweet Moon Language Admit something: Everyone you see, you say to them, “Love me.” Of course, you do not do this out loud, otherwise someone would call the cops. Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect. Why not become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye that is always saying, with that sweet moon language, what every other eye in this world is dying to hear? ~ Hafiz, Ladinsky ~

I love this poem by Hafiz translated by Daniel Ladinsky.

When I present creative writing, workshops in Ireland called Companioning Greatness I like to introduce myself using this poem because it really does say more about me than I could ever say.

This spiritual journey poem shares what I view as the 3 spiritual stages of a man’s life. When I use the word “man’s” this is not gender specific.

3 Stages of the Spiritual Life

You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life? ― Rumi

The three stages of the spiritual life can be viewed in this way.

Stage 1 – Personal – 1 st Stage of Life.
Stage 2 – Transitional – Mid stage of Life.
Stage 3 – Transpersonal – 2 nd Stage of Life.

There are different ways to view these stages spiritual life journey. The Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung stated this 3-stage journey in this way

The first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego, the second half is going inward and letting go of it. – Carl Jung

The founder of Yoga the Indian Sage Patanjali referred to this 3-stage spiritual journey when he defined Yoga in the following way.

Yoga is the journey from the self (1 st Stage) to the Self (3 rd Stage) through the self (2 nd Stage) – Patanjali.

The Christian mystic Miester Eckhart spoke of this 3-stage spiritual journey when he said.

When the higher flows into the lower the lower is transformed by the higher – Miester Eckhart – Christian mystic. (1260-1328)

The higher is the awakening to the transpersonal sense of self. When this happens there is flow. The 1 st stage is to create a container into which the higher can flow.

The Beginning of the Spiritual Life – The Longing for Love

Admit something: Everyone you see, you say to them, “Love me.” Of course, you do not do this out loud, otherwise someone might call the cops.

This was definitely me when I was a young man. Everyone I would see I would say to them “Love me.” Of course, I didn’t say this out loud, but I think I projected that energy into the world.

No one called the cops, but they didn’t stay around for the most part. I spend time among friends who where outsiders and were plagued by mental illness.

I had a very unclear sense of who I was or wanted to be.

I had at one time KNOWN what I wanted to be. (17 years old).

My mother gave me a book on Yoga. When I read it, I KNEW I wanted to be a teacher of Yoga but instead I became an accountant.

That was until that midlife transition (50 years old) where I morphed into a storyteller, teacher of Raja yoga and writer.

Spiritual Longing Opens the Heart

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. – Rumi

Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.

I really did have this longing to connect. It was when I was around 26 years that I was graced that connection to the Divine.

It has perfumed my life ever since. When I was living this direct experience of awakening, I belonged to a Manchester walking club. I was given the name “Silver tongue.”

This awakening came through the reading of the work of the spiritual teacher Jeddu Krishnamurti. I was reading a chapter in one of his books. The name of the chapter was “Understanding.”

I had an absolute longing to understand in the way he was writing about. I was on a train on the way into London. I looked out the window and everything in that moment changed and my life changed in a way I could never envisage.

Instead of being a seeker I had been graced to become a KNOWER.

Spiritual Direction for the Journey

Why not become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye that is always saying, with that sweet moon language, what every other eye in this world is dying to hear?

So now I have this longing to shine the light of awakening into the darkness of the sense of the separateness from Love.

This is by way of the books I write and this website. Learning to live with a full moon in each eye is an ongoing journey of surrender and allowing.

I KNOW that this sweet moon language is not my own. It reflects the Divine Light that I work to allow to be expressed through me.

That sweet moon language is the language of Love which I as a servant of Love am graced to express whenever I get out of the way.

This is the 2 nd stage of life where you let go the sense of the personal self to allow the Self to be expressed through you.

The way in which others hear that sweet moon language is through the experience of Presence that you allow to move through you.

You are not a preacher. The mystic St Francis of Assisi said it this way. “Go out into the world and preach the Gospel and if necessary, use words.”

All mystics KNOW that the real way to share that sweet moon language is by way of one’s connection to the Presence of Love.

In this way you become an Attractor rather than a preacher. This is the REAL Law of Attraction in Action.

As a teacher of Raja Yoga which is the yoga of union with the Divine, I see my role as inviting you to explore the stage of transition that is the Awakening of the Heart.

Stage of Spiritual Transition

The Awakening of the Heart. – (Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207-1373)
The Journey through and beyond Midlife Crisis – (Richard Rohr – Spiritual Writer)
The Opening to the Flow of Prosperity (Miester Eckhart – Christian Mystic)
Surrender of the Ego (Carl Gustav Jung – 20 th Century psychoanalyst)

I invite this awakening along the spiritual journey by way of poetry, song and storytelling aligned with key spiritual practices .

If this is of interest to you, please indulge my recommending my book on the awakening of the heart. In this book I share 21 Ways in which you can explore heart awakening.

These include

Poetry – The Lake Isle of Innisfree – W. B. Yeats
Folk Song – Annan Waters – Kate Rusby
Fairy Tale – Beauty and the Beast.
Movie – Educating Rita.

Below I share various links to Amazon dependant on where you are living. As of July 2021, there are 9 reviews of this book with an average 4.6-star rating.

My feeling is that if you are interested in spiritual poetry that you are at a stage in your life where you may be open to the power of the language of the heart. I hope that you are.

It is my intention as of July 2020 to share with your reflections like those above regarding other spiritual journey poems that I love.

Here is a selection of those that I think are relevant for anyone searching for the term “spiritual journey poems.”

The Journey – Mary Oliver.
The Bright Field – R.S. Thomas.
Love after Love – Derek Walcott
Pegasus – Patrick Kavanagh.
The Song of Wandering Aengus – W. B. Yeats
The Journey – Rumi.

All these poems are sharing that sweet moon language that lights up the darkness that is the sense of the personal sense of self.

This is a necessary stage of the spiritual journey before the awakening of the heart that longs and belongs to the KNOWING of LOVE.

May your eyes be open to the magnificence of who you are created to become. Please leave a comment or share your favourite spiritual journey poem.

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Poems About Life: Reflecting on The Human Condition

The Albert Team
Last Updated On: March 25, 2024

What We Review

Introduction: The Infinite Canvas of Life in Poetry

Humans across cultures and time have shared similar experiences of joy and sadness, love and heartbreak, and birth and death. Even though all humans have these universal experiences, we all experience these moments in different ways.

Poetry about living lets writers share their deep feelings about life experiences. It also gives readers a chance to see the world through the poet’s perspective. These poems about life help readers experience the poet’s emotions themselves.

Poems about Life and Its Moments

Many poets throughout time have been gifted with the ability to look around and notice the things that make our lives truly beautiful. As Thoreau once said, “Wait a minute, wait a minute. We have to slow down, take a look around us, and not destroy what’s left”. William Carlos Williams, for example, enjoyed writing poems that everyone could enjoy and relate to their own experience, such as his short poem, “This is Just to Say” .

In this poem , Williams recounts a moment where he enjoyed eating someone else’s plums that they were saving in the refrigerator. He illustrates a very common human experience: the choice to consider the needs of others or meet our own desires.

Another example is by Emily Dickinson in her poem, “Success is Counted Sweetest” . In this poem, Dickinson captures the universal human experience of striving for success. All of us want to be successful in one area or another, whether academically, relationally, or financially. In her poem related to life, Dickinson contrasts the sweet feeling of success and triumph with the agonizing emotions of defeat and loss.

Poem Related to Life’s Many Facets

Many writers have also used the poetic form to highlight different facets of our societies that others might not notice. For example, in Jonathan Swift’s poem, “Market Women’s Cries” , Swift describes three different women attempting to sell their wares to passing customers in the marketplace. This satirical poem jokes about lazy fathers and secret lovers. It even discusses the speaker dying if she doesn’t make enough money. Even though each of these women’s stories have a humorous tone, Swift uses humor to highlight the true struggles of these and many women striving to care for their families.

Jake Skeets in his poem, “Learning About Treaties” , also highlights an oft-overlooked story. Skeets uses his own experience to highlight the perspective of a young, Navajo boy learning about Native American treaties. Skeets highlights that this lesson looks nothing like his personal experience or family history. The dry language of the treaty is contrasted with imagery-rich descriptions of Skeet’s personal experience of drinking out of water hoses and “riding black sheep in a lightning storm”. Skeets ends the poem with a harrowing phrase: “everything dried up” to underline the lasting, painful, personal impact of these treaties.

Understanding Life Through Poems about Dying

Another topic with much poetic consideration is mortality. Poems about dying are not necessarily something readers are drawn to immediately, but within these poems is not so much the fear and uncertainty of death, but more so a reflection on what makes our lives so beautiful and an encouragement to appreciate the lives we have.

“Sonnet 73” by William Shakespeare

For example, in his poem, “Sonnet 73” , William Shakespeare compares the season of winter to his eventual passing. He finds beautify in these seasons of life. He compares fallen leaves on the ground to him lying on his own death bed. These reflections lead him to charge the reader to make “thy love more strong, To love that well which thou must leave ere long”. Since death is inevitable for all of us, we should be intentional about loving one another well while we are here on earth.

“Upon a Fit of Sickness” by Anne Bradstreet

Another example of a death poem is Anne Bradstreet’s “Upon a Fit of Sickness” . At nineteen years old, Bradstreet succumbed to a high fever and accepted the possibility that she could die as a result of her illness. Bradstreet willingly accepts her death as part of God’s will, revealing her Puritan-inspired mindset. Her comfort lies in her faith and hope of heaven, and she reflects on the brevity of life compared to her eternity in heaven.

Elegies and Tributes: Death Poems that Touch the Soul

Oftentimes poets write poems to express the depth of feeling associated with losing a loved one. Walt Whitman captures this emotional response in his elegy to Abraham Lincoln, “O Captain! My Captain!” . In this poem, Whitman captures both his personal and the nationwide response to Lincoln’s sudden death.

Whitman uses triumphant images of crowds of admirers welcoming a captain into the city. Additionally, the word “father” implies the depth of loss felt by Whitman personally following Lincoln’s death. This emotional poem underscores the incredible impact Lincoln had on this country. It also depicts the nation-wide sorrow that was felt for his sudden passing.

Another example of a not-so-heartfelt elegy is by Jonathan Swift. “A Satirical Elegy on the Death of a Late Famous General” satirizes how people react when a despised leader dies. Others mock his obituary, and no one attends his funeral procession.

This poem also serves as a warning to future leaders that regardless of how much wealth or popularity they gained while in office, they will lose it all in death.

Conclusion: The Poetic Legacy of Life and Death

Whether describing daily life or contemplating human mortality, poetry has an enduring legacy. As readers, poems about life and death can encourage us to appreciate the things and people in our lives as well as educate us on the experiences of others, reminding us that we are not that different from one another after all.

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Couple who found pearl inside clam, turned it into engagement ring discuss wedding journey

Both ken steinkamp, 75, and sandy sikorski, 70, are thrilled to tie the knot at ocean house in rhode island and travel to europe after..

Rhode Island lovebirds who found a pearl inside a clam and turned it into an engagement ring are one step closer to lifelong bliss, they shared with USA TODAY.

Ken Steinkamp and Sandy Sikorski live in Westerly, Rhode Island and on December 27, 2021, they grabbed clams at Bridge Restaurant, which is now closed.

Sikorski was eating one of the clams when she tasted something a bit off. It turned out to be a pearl and a year-and-a-half later, the couple turned the pearl into an engagement ring.

Their story made its rounds online and in multiple news outlets, turning them into celebrities of sorts.

The pair said sometimes people see her ring and bring up the story of how they found the pearl.

“I am surprised every single time somebody says ‘I know about this ring,’” Sikorski said. “It’s hard to go unnoticed because it's white and people are looking for a diamond. “

Now, the couple has secured a venue and plans to tie the knot on April 14.

Read more to find out what the couple has been up to and how they’re tying their previous find into their nuptials.

Read more on the couple: She found a pearl inside of a clam. Now, it's her engagement ring.

Ceremony will be intimate at a Rhode Island resort

Steinkamp, 75, and Sikorski, 70, will wed at Avondale Chapel, then have their reception at Ocean House, a resort a few miles away in Watch Hill.

They opted for a small ceremony due to costs and family circumstances.

“We chose a small wedding because of the age we are and I don’t think we have 200 friends that could ever get here,” the groom said.

They spotted the chapel where they’ll say “I do” as they were headed out for their nightly drive, he said. They drive each night and watch the sunset. Off on this side road lies Avondale Chapel. It was built in the 1800s.

“It’s very cute and very small,” Steinkamp said.

They decided to tie the ocean and the chapel into their wedding plans and now, they’re all set to have a boutique ceremony with about 27 people.

Boutique weddings are in right now, said Hannah Bontempo, the catering and sales manager at Ocean House who is helping the couple make their wedding happen. They are typically smaller in size and made up of about 30 or fewer guests.

“It's a smaller event, so it's not a giant ballroom,” she said. “It's not a giant tent. It's not like a crazy, long, drawn out ceremony. It's more intimate. It's more designed to be for the couple and for their love and their story.”

Making pearls a part of the festivities

The couple plans to have pearls around the base of their wedding cake. The bride will also wear pearl earrings and her granddaughter, Nora, will be a junior bridesmaid and have pearls on her shoes.

They had a wedding cake tasting on March 2 at Ocean House, where Chef Jessica Quiet prepared a chocolate clam with a pearl inside. The chocolate was delicious, Sikorski said.

“I had shared the story of their ring,” said Bontempo, the catering and sales manager at Ocean House. “I was sharing that with our pastry chef so when they came for their cake tasting, she wanted to make it a little bit more special for them.”

She said with each couple she works with, she likes to get details and hear their love stories to give their ceremonies that personal touch.

“I have to say that that pastry was kind of above and beyond,” she said.

The bride and groom have also curated the perfect playlist to celebrate their union on the 14th.

They plan to sway to Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately” for their first dance and later, they’ll feature songs by artists such as Bruno Mars.

Wedding will be something fun for everyone, bride and groom say

Steinkamp and Sikorski said the wedding will be momentous for them but also for family and friends.

It has been a tough time for them because her mother passed away a few years ago and her father, Louis Bald, is 93 and has had some health issues. He is determined to live longer and attend the wedding though.

Sikorski wants her father to walk her down the aisle and he has been in and out of the hospital. They’ll see if he can walk with a cane, she said.

“He said ‘I’m not going to miss it,’” Sikorski recalled.

Her husband-to-be said part of the planning involved making sure her father is taken care of.

“One of the challenges of doing this is not only the cost and the timing but it's the organization around her father,” he said. It's the coordination of that and allowing us some time away. Sandy's been because she's the oldest, she's been the main caretaker for mother and father for many years.”

The couple will marry on a Sunday and the next day, they’ll fly out to Europe for three weeks. They want to go to Paris since Sikorski has never been and French is her native language.

Family members have stepped in to take care of her father so the couple can travel.

Her father is so excited about the wedding, she said. He asks them all the time about the wedding plans and can’t wait to see it come to fruition.

“All weddings are a family affair,” Steinkamp said. “This little smaller wedding has been very special in that regard because it does bring a little light into the picture.”

'This is a Hallmark story if there ever was one'

Prior to meeting in 2018, both of them had been married and divorced. They joined the same dating app and one day, she got a notification that he was nearby. She wanted to message him but her membership had lapsed, so she renewed it and introduced herself.

The couple found the pearl in December 2021 and on July 6, 2023, he proposed to her.

Both Steinkamp and Sikorski are thrilled to tie the knot and travel after. They can’t help but smile when reflecting on their journey to get to this point.

“This is a Hallmark story if there ever was one,” Steinkamp said.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at [email protected] .

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In many of the best journey poems, the journey is a metaphor for something greater - and this is certainly the case in this Emily Dickinson poem. And what journey is greater than that from life into death, mortality into eternity? A. E. Housman, 'White in the moon the long road lies'. White in the moon the long road lies,
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Poem Related to Life's Many Facets Many writers have also used the poetic form to highlight different facets of our societies that others might not notice. For example, in Jonathan Swift's poem, "Market Women's Cries" , Swift describes three different women attempting to sell their wares to passing customers in the marketplace.
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Couple who found pearl inside clam, turned it into engagement ring discuss wedding journey Both Ken Steinkamp, 75, and Sandy Sikorski, 70, are thrilled to tie the knot at Ocean House in Rhode ...