Pre-Election Inspiration

A poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American.

The primary message of this haunting poem is that life is beautiful, full of faith and hope. I thought of this, one of my favorite poems, because it seemed to speak to me at what I feel is a turning point in our nation. We've come a long way yall, and we should be proud. I know for a fact we will never be the same and that we are better.

After we vote and it is over, we should vow to be better Americans. We should pay attention, and participate. We have to stand up and demand that our government work for all the people. Be patient with our new president. Allow him to be human, to err and to apologize, to challenge us, and prepare to challenge him.

This poem does not look to the past but to the present and the future. We're having hard times, and hard times teach hard lessons. These lines are inspiration to get busy learning, growing, living and giving.


A Psalm of Life

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.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Tomorrow, my pre-election prayer.