Life Changing Poems for Hard Times

defeat my defeat my solitude and my aloofness you are dearer to me than a thousand triumphs and sweeter to my heart and all world glory defeat my defeat my self-knowledge and my defiance through you i know that i am yet young and swift of foot and not to be trapped by withering laurels and in you i have found aloneness and the joy of being shunned and scorned defeat my defeat my shining sword and shield in your eyes i have read that to be enthroned is to be enslaved and to be understood is to be leveled

down and to be grasped is but to reach one's fullness and like a ripe fruit to fall and be consumed defeat my defeat my bold companion you shall hear my songs and my cries and my silences and none but you shall speak to me of the beating of wings and urging of seas and of mountains that burn in the night and you alone shall climb my steep and rocky soul defeat my defeat my deathless courage you and i shall laugh together with the storm and together we shall dig graves for all that die in us

and we shall stand in the sun with the will and we shall be dangerous 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 thus thou art to dust returnest was not spoken of the soul not enjoyment and not sorrow is our destined end of way but to act that each tomorrow finds us father then today 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 bivwhack of life be not like dumb driven cattle [Music] be a hero in the strife trust no future our pleasant let the dead past bury its dead act act in the living present heart within and god overhead 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 or life's solemn mane 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 learn to wait 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 imposters 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 them up with worn out tools if you could 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 out of the night that covers me black is the pit from pole the pole i thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul in the fell clutch of circumstance i have not winced nor cried aloud under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody but unbowed beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade [Music] and yet the menace of the years finds and shall find me unafraid it matters not how

straight the gate how charged with punishments the scroll i am the master of my fate i am the captain of my soul go placidly amid the noise in the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence as far as possible without surrender beyond 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 victations 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 [Music] be yourself especially do not feign affection neither be cynical about love or in the face of all myridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the

grass take kindly the council 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 [Music] beyond wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself [Music] you are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars [Music] you have a right to be here [Music] 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 [Music] 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 [Music] [Music] you