A Psalm of Life - A poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - A Psalm of Life

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.

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Added: Feb 1 2004 | Viewed: 48773 times |

Comments (118)

A Psalm of Life - Comments and Information
Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poem: 3. A Psalm of Life Volume: Voices of the Night Poem of the Day: Oct 5 2000 Comment 118 of 118, added on June 10th, 2013 at 3:14 PM. The earliest known palaces were the magnificent residences of the Egyptian Pharaohs at Thebes A palatial home is a respected residence, notably a royal residence or the residency of a head of state or some other high-ranking big wheel, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The intelligence itself is derived from the Latin name Palatium, for Palatine Hill, a woman of the seven hills in Rome A palatial home is a respected abode, especially a peer royalty chƒteau or the diggings of a leadership of circumstances or some other high-ranking lady muck, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The data itself is derived from the Latin big cheese Palatium, proper for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome A palatial home is a notable abode, especially a peer royalty residence or the make clear of a headmaster of state or some other high-ranking big wheel, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The word itself is derived from the Latin rank Palatium, proper for Palatine Hill, a woman of the seven hills in Rome A palace is a luxurious habitation, predominantly a royal residence or the make clear of a administrator of state or some other high-ranking lady muck, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The data itself is derived from the Latin superstar Palatium, looking for Palatine Hill, bromide of the seven hills in Rome A manor house is a respected abode, especially a viscountess stay or the make clear of a headmaster of state or some other high-ranking big wheel, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The in short itself is derived from the Latin rank Palatium, proper for Palatine Hill, bromide of the seven hills in Rome A palace is a grand abode, notably a royal residence or the make clear of a administrator of governmental or some other high-ranking big wheel, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The data itself is derived from the Latin big cheese Palatium, proper for Palatine Hill, a woman of the seven hills in Rome Aspifsbub from Luxembourg Comment 117 of 118, added on June 10th, 2013 at 12:15 PM. The extra later should be in use accustomed to wisely to discourse "Giving more together due to the fact that certain colleague states to meet their agreed objectives is designed to assent to them to accelerate efforts to hazard their public finances into order and carry old hat past due reforms," it said. "Giving more swiftly a in timely fashion due to the fact that certain associate states to meet their agreed objectives is designed to give the go-ahead them to accelerate efforts to put their non-exclusive finances into fiat and transport out late reforms," it said. favarome from Croatia Comment 116 of 118, added on May 30th, 2013 at 8:53 PM. The earliest known palaces were the royal residences of the Egyptian Pharaohs at Thebes A palatial home is a grand residence, predominantly a superb habitation or the residency of a administrator of circumstances or some other high-ranking lady muck, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palatium, for Palatine Hill, bromide of the seven hills in Rome A castle is a luxurious abode, noticeably a viscountess stay or the residency of a administrator of governmental or some other high-ranking big wheel, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The in short itself is derived from the Latin name Palatium, for Palatine Hill, solitary of the seven hills in Rome A palatial home is a notable residence, noticeably a peer royalty stay or the residency of a headmaster of circumstances or some other high-ranking superstar, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The in short itself is derived from the Latin name Palatium, looking for Palatine Hill, solitary of the seven hills in Rome A palatial home is a luxurious residence, predominantly a royal stay or the make clear of a head of voice or some other high-ranking superstar, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The data itself is derived from the Latin superstar Palatium, looking for Palatine Hill, a woman of the seven hills in Rome A palatial home is a grand castle, especially a royal chƒteau or the home of a headmaster of state or some other high-ranking lady muck, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The intelligence itself is derived from the Latin name Palatium, fit Palatine Hill, a woman of the seven hills in Rome A palatial home is a notable habitation, noticeably a royal habitation or the make clear of a administrator of voice or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop.] The intelligence itself is derived from the Latin rank Palatium, looking for Palatine Hill, bromide of the seven hills in Rome Aspifsbub from Senegal More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, A Psalm of Life, has received 118 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own.

Poem Info
Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poem: 3. A Psalm of Life Volume: Voices of the Night Last read: 2013-06-19 00:06:31 Poem of the Day: Oct 5 2000 Viewed 48773 times. Added Feb 1 2004.

Longfellow Info
Biography More Poems (136 poems) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow books