A Psalm of Life

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow circa 1850

I have in my collection a book called The Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (comprising his poems from 1839 to 1847).  It has an inscription in the front that says:

Mary L. Cassin 

From Aunt Emily 

Christmas 1896

Its in pretty darn good shape for a 116 year old book, it looks like only the first 20 pages have been read.   I'm guessing Mary used it like I do, as a decoration.  I took it down and actually read some of it the other day.   Mary and I have been missing out!   

 I fell in love with one of the poems, A Psalm of Life.  It's awesome!  The kids and I are now working on memorizing it.  It's got an amazing message and cool words like "bivouac" in it.  What's not to love?!!

A Psalm of Life 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

Life is real!  Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each to-morrow

Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!

Let the dead past bury its dead!

Act, -act, in the living Present!

Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lifes 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.  

PS: bivouac means a temporary dwelling place, like a campsite.  Now I'm off to be a hero and leave some footprints on the sands of time, with deep gratitude for the footprints of others that have given me heart today and everyday!

Kim (June 22, 2012)