Famous Sad Poems

Famous Sad Poems

The Saddest Classic Poems

Coping with sadness can be quite a challenge. Many famous poets understood that whether one feels sadness because of a breakup, the loss of a loved one, illness, or another of life's many injustices, one of the best ways to vent this complicated emotion is through poetry. Many famous poets used their words to turn sadness into something tangible, making it easier to understand. Poems that deal with sadness have often helped their writers to identify the true source of their sadness. They can also help readers to feel understood and less alone.

38 Poems about Sadness and Depression by Famous Poets

  1. 1. Solitude

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    "Solitude" is Ella Wheeler Wilcox's most famous poem. The idea for the poem came as she was traveling to Madison, Wisconsin, to attend the Governor's inaugural ball. On her way to the celebration, there was a young woman dressed in black sitting across the aisle from her. The woman was crying. Miss Wheeler sat next to her and sought to comfort her for the rest of the journey. When they arrived, the poet was so unhappy that she could barely attend the festivities. As she looked at her own face in the mirror, she suddenly recalled the sorrowful widow. It was at that moment that she wrote the opening lines of "Solitude." It was first published in an 1883 issue of The New York Sun.

    Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
        Weep, and you weep alone;
    For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
        But has trouble enough of its own.
    Sing, and the hills will answer;
        Sigh, it is lost on the air;
    The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
        But shrink from voicing care.

    Rejoice, and men will seek you;
        Grieve, and they turn and go;
    They want full measure of all your pleasure,
        But they do not need your woe.
    Be glad, and your friends are many;
        Be sad, and you lose them all,
    There are none to decline your nectared wine,
        But alone you must drink life's gall.

    Feast, and your halls are crowded;
        Fast, and the world goes by.
    Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
        But no man can help you die.
    There is room in the halls of pleasure
        For a large and lordly train,
    But one by one we must all file on
        Through the narrow aisles of pain.

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  3. 2. Tulips

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    Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) wrote “Tulips” while she was in the hospital. It reveals the struggle she had with her mental state. Sylvia wants to die at that moment, but the bright red tulips make her think about life and living. She almost feels as though the flowers are taunting her. “Tulips” was written in 1961 but wasn’t published until 1965 - a couple of years after her death.

    The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here.
    Look how white everything is, how quiet, how snowed-in.   
    I am learning peacefulness, lying by myself quietly
    As the light lies on these white walls, this bed, these hands.   
    I am nobody; I have nothing to do with explosions.   
    I have given my name and my day-clothes up to the nurses   
    And my history to the anesthetist and my body to surgeons.

    They have propped my head between the pillow and the sheet-cuff   
    Like an eye between two white lids that will not shut.
    Stupid pupil, it has to take everything in.
    The nurses pass and pass, they are no trouble,
    They pass the way gulls pass inland in their white caps,
    Doing things with their hands, one just the same as another,   
    So it is impossible to tell how many there are.

    My body is a pebble to them, they tend it as water
    Tends to the pebbles it must run over, smoothing them gently.
    They bring me numbness in their bright needles, they bring me sleep.   
    Now I have lost myself I am sick of baggage——
    My patent leather overnight case like a black pillbox,   
    My husband and child smiling out of the family photo;   
    Their smiles catch onto my skin, little smiling hooks.

    I have let things slip, a thirty-year-old cargo boat   
    stubbornly hanging on to my name and address.
    They have swabbed me clear of my loving associations.   
    Scared and bare on the green plastic-pillowed trolley   
    I watched my teaset, my bureaus of linen, my books   
    Sink out of sight, and the water went over my head.   
    I am a nun now, I have never been so pure.

    I didn’t want any flowers, I only wanted
    To lie with my hands turned up and be utterly empty.
    How free it is, you have no idea how free——
    The peacefulness is so big it dazes you,
    And it asks nothing, a name tag, a few trinkets.
    It is what the dead close on, finally; I imagine them   
    Shutting their mouths on it, like a Communion tablet.   

    The tulips are too red in the first place, they hurt me.
    Even through the gift paper I could hear them breathe   
    Lightly, through their white swaddlings, like an awful baby.   
    Their redness talks to my wound, it corresponds.
    They are subtle : they seem to float, though they weigh me down,   
    Upsetting me with their sudden tongues and their color,   
    A dozen red lead sinkers round my neck.

    Nobody watched me before, now I am watched.   
    The tulips turn to me, and the window behind me
    Where once a day the light slowly widens and slowly thins,   
    And I see myself, flat, ridiculous, a cut-paper shadow   
    Between the eye of the sun and the eyes of the tulips,   
    And I have no face, I have wanted to efface myself.   
    The vivid tulips eat my oxygen.

    Before they came the air was calm enough,
    Coming and going, breath by breath, without any fuss.   
    Then the tulips filled it up like a loud noise.
    Now the air snags and eddies round them the way a river   
    Snags and eddies round a sunken rust-red engine.   
    They concentrate my attention, that was happy   
    Playing and resting without committing itself.

    The walls, also, seem to be warming themselves.
    The tulips should be behind bars like dangerous animals;   
    They are opening like the mouth of some great African cat,   
    And I am aware of my heart: it opens and closes
    Its bowl of red blooms out of sheer love of me.
    The water I taste is warm and salt, like the sea,
    And comes from a country far away as health.

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  5. 3. Winter Stars

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    Sara Teasdale, famous American poet born in 1884, was born to a wealthy family in Missouri and had many successes in her career. However, she fought depression and ultimately committed suicide in 1933. In this poem, the speaker is comforted by the constant presence of the stars. No matter where she went, she knew she could always see the stars high in the sky. Even as life changes ("years go, dreams go, and youth goes too…"), there are certain things that are unwavering. Sometimes we need to keep our eyes focused on those things.

    I went out at night alone;
      The young blood flowing beyond the sea
    Seemed to have drenched my spirit’s wings—
      I bore my sorrow heavily.

    But when I lifted up my head
      From shadows shaken on the snow,
    I saw Orion in the east
      Burn steadily as long ago.

    From windows in my father’s house,
      Dreaming my dreams on winter nights,
    I watched Orion as a girl
      Above another city’s lights.

    Years go, dreams go, and youth goes too,
       The world’s heart breaks beneath its wars,
    All things are changed, save in the east
      The faithful beauty of the stars.

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  6. 4. Alone

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    The poem "Alone" was written by Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849) in 1829. It was written by Poe when he was only 20 and describes his own inner torment at that young age. The poem was not published until 1875, long after his death.

    From childhood’s hour I have not been
    As others were—I have not seen
    As others saw—I could not bring
    My passions from a common spring—
    From the same source I have not taken
    My sorrow—I could not awaken
    My heart to joy at the same tone—
    And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—
    Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
    Of a most stormy life—was drawn
    From ev’ry depth of good and ill
    The mystery which binds me still—
    From the torrent, or the fountain—
    From the red cliff of the mountain—
    From the sun that ‘round me roll’d
    In its autumn tint of gold—
    From the lightning in the sky
    As it pass’d me flying by—
    From the thunder, and the storm—
    And the cloud that took the form
    (When the rest of Heaven was blue)
    Of a demon in my view—

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  7. 5. Defeat

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    In Kahlil Gibran's poem "Defeat," the poet presents a unique perspective on defeat and embraces it as a cherished companion. Through poetic language and metaphors, Gibran explores the deeper meaning of defeat and its transformative power. The poet personifies defeat, addressing it directly as a trusted confidant and source of self-knowledge. Gibran suggests that defeat brings wisdom and strength, allowing one to remain untethered by the allure of worldly success and instead find solace in solitude and rejection. The poem evokes a sense of defiance and resilience, emphasizing that defeat is not a sign of weakness but a catalyst for growth and a reminder of one's mortality. Gibran's imagery of soaring wings, crashing seas, and burning mountains conveys the tumultuous journey of the soul and the profound connection between defeat and personal courage. Ultimately, the poem exudes a spirit of determination and danger, urging the reader to face adversity with unwavering resolve and to embrace the transformative power of defeat.

    Defeat, my Defeat, my solitude and my aloofness;
    You are dearer to me than a thousand triumphs,
    And sweeter to my heart than 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 a will,
    And we shall be dangerous.

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  8. 6. The Flower That Smiles To-day

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    The poem "The Flower That Smiles Today" talks about how happiness and good times don't last forever. It compares happiness to a flower that blooms one day but withers away the next. The poet reflects on how things we hope will stay often end up leaving us disappointed when they disappear. The poem mentions how fragile things like being good, having friends, and feeling love can be. Even though they may seem strong, they can easily lead to sadness and despair. Despite this, the poem suggests that we can survive these ups and downs. It tells us to enjoy happy moments while they last, but also reminds us that sadness is a part of life too.

    The flower that smiles to-day
              To-morrow dies;
    All that we wish to stay
              Tempts and then flies.
    What is this world's delight?
    Lightning that mocks the night,
              Brief even as bright.

       Virtue, how frail it is!
              Friendship how rare!
    Love, how it sells poor bliss
              For proud despair!
    But we, though soon they fall,
    Survive their joy, and all
              Which ours we call.

       Whilst skies are blue and bright,
              Whilst flowers are gay,
    Whilst eyes that change ere night
              Make glad the day;
    Whilst yet the calm hours creep,
    Dream thou—and from thy sleep
              Then wake to weep

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  9. 7. Walking Around

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    "Walking Around" by Pablo Neruda delves into the disquieting thoughts of the speaker, exploring their disillusionment with life and a profound desire to break free from societal constraints. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Neruda uses the repetitious line "It so happens I am sick of being a man" to create a rhythmic structure that emphasizes the speaker's growing discontent. The poem also employs contrasting imagery, such as the juxtaposition of a "swan made of felt" and "water of wombs and ashes," to evoke a sense of emotional and existential turmoil. Neruda's use of surreal and unsettling scenes, like wanting to "terrify a law clerk with a cut lily" or "kill a nun with a blow on the ear," further contributes to the poem's dark and introspective tone. The poem's vivid language and exploration of existential themes make it a thought-provoking piece that invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human existence.

    It so happens I am sick of being a man.
    And it happens that I walk into tailorshops and movie houses
    dried up, waterproof, like a swan made of felt
    steering my way in a water of wombs and ashes.

    The smell of barbershops makes me break into hoarse sobs.
    The only thing I want is to lie still like stones or wool.
    The only thing I want is to see no more stores, no gardens,
    no more goods, no spectacles, no elevators.

    It so happens I am sick of my feet and my nails
    and my hair and my shadow.
    It so happens I am sick of being a man.

    Still it would be marvelous
    to terrify a law clerk with a cut lily,
    or kill a nun with a blow on the ear.
    It would be great
    to go through the streets with a green knife
    letting out yells until I died of the cold.

    I don’t want to go on being a root in the dark,
    insecure, stretched out, shivering with sleep,
    going on down, into the moist guts of the earth,
    taking in and thinking, eating every day.

    I don’t want so much misery.
    I don’t want to go on as a root and a tomb,
    alone under the ground, a warehouse with corpses,
    half frozen, dying of grief.

    That’s why Monday, when it sees me coming
    with my convict face, blazes up like gasoline,
    and it howls on its way like a wounded wheel,
    and leaves tracks full of warm blood leading toward the night.

    And it pushes me into certain corners, into some moist houses,
    into hospitals where the bones fly out the window,
    into shoeshops that smell like vinegar,
    and certain streets hideous as cracks in the skin.

    There are sulphur-colored birds, and hideous intestines
    hanging over the doors of houses that I hate,
    and there are false teeth forgotten in a coffeepot,
    there are mirrors
    that ought to have wept from shame and terror,
    there are umbrellas everywhere, and venoms, and umbilical cords.

    I stroll along serenely, with my eyes, my shoes,
    my rage, forgetting everything,
    I walk by, going through office buildings and orthopedic shops,
    and courtyards with washing hanging from the line:
    underwear, towels and shirts from which slow
    dirty tears are falling.

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  10. 8. The Lesson

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    In the poem "The Lesson" by Paul Laurence Dunbar, the speaker reflects on his own sadness and loneliness as he sits by his window, listening to the passionate song of a mockingbird in the cypress grove. The poet uses imagery to convey the deep emotions, describing his life as a "cold winter that knew no spring" and his mind as "weary and sick and wild." However, as he listens to the bird's song, a transformative thought enters his heart, inspiring him to use his own art to bring comfort to others. The poet employs metaphor, comparing the songs that emerge from the darkness of hearts to the joyous songs of the mockingbird in the cypress grove. Through his simple art of singing a lay, the speaker finds solace and realizes the power of comforting others to heal his own wounds

    My cot was down by a cypress grove,
    And I sat by my window the whole night long,
    And heard well up from the deep dark wood
    A mocking-bird's passionate song.

    And I thought of myself so sad and lone,
    And my life's cold winter that knew no spring;
    Of my mind so weary and sick and wild,
    Of my heart too sad to sing.

    But e'en as I listened the mock-bird's song,
    A thought stole into my saddened heart,
    And I said, "I can cheer some other soul
    By a carol's simple art."

    For oft from the darkness of hearts and lives
    Come songs that brim with joy and light,
    As out of the gloom of the cypress grove
    The mocking-bird sings at night.

    So I sang a lay for a brother's ear
    In a strain to soothe his bleeding heart,
    And he smiled at the sound of my voice and lyre,
    Though mine was a feeble art.

    But at his smile I smiled in turn,
    And into my soul there came a ray:
    In trying to soothe another's woes
    Mine own had passed away.

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  11. 9. Bluebird

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    Charles Bukowski's poem "Bluebird" explores the poet's internal struggle to suppress his vulnerable emotions. There is a bluebird residing in his heart, yearning to be set free, yet the speaker's toughness and fear of exposing his true self prevent it from escaping. He resorts to numbing the bird's presence with whiskey, smoke, and distractions from the outside world. The poem reveals a complex relationship between the speaker and the bluebird, with moments of tenderness and acknowledgment. Their secret bond brings solace, evoking powerful emotions that resonate deeply, leaving readers to contemplate their own capacity for vulnerability.

    there's a bluebird in my heart that
    wants to get out
    but I'm too tough for him,
    I say, stay in there, I'm not going
    to let anybody see
    you.
    there's a bluebird in my heart that
    wants to get out
    but I pour whiskey on him and inhale
    cigarette smoke
    and the whores and the bartenders
    and the grocery clerks
    never know that
    he's
    in there.

    there's a bluebird in my heart that
    wants to get out
    but I'm too tough for him,
    I say,
    stay down, do you want to mess
    me up?
    you want to screw up the
    works?
    you want to blow my book sales in
    Europe?
    there's a bluebird in my heart that
    wants to get out
    but I'm too clever, I only let him out
    at night sometimes
    when everybody's asleep.
    I say, I know that you're there,
    so don't be
    sad.
    then I put him back,
    but he's singing a little
    in there, I haven't quite let him
    die
    and we sleep together like
    that
    with our
    secret pact
    and it's nice enough to
    make a man
    weep, but I don't
    weep, do
    you?

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  12. 10. The Rainy Day

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    "The Rainy Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a melancholic poem about the feelings of sadness. The poem uses imagery and metaphor to depict the bleakness of a rainy day. The wind and rain symbolize the constant struggles and difficulties in life, and the fallen leaves represent lost hopes and dreams. The poet tries to find comfort in the idea that everyone experiences hardships in life, but the sadness still lingers. The rhyme scheme used in the poem is ABAAB. The message is that life can be dark and difficult, but one must keep hope and find the sunshine behind the clouds.

    The day is cold, and dark, and dreary
    It rains, and the wind is never weary;
    The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
    But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
    And the day is dark and dreary.

    My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
    It rains, and the wind is never weary;
    My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
    But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
    And the days are dark and dreary.

    Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
    Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
    Thy fate is the common fate of all,
    Into each life some rain must fall,
    Some days must be dark and dreary.

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  13. 11. We Wear The Mask

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    Both of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s parents were slaves, and he was born less than a decade after slavery became illegal. “We Wear the Mask” was published in 1896. Dunbar wrote about what it was like to be African American during the late 1800s and the pain experienced by the black community. In this poem, he writes about how the truth is not always what it appears to be when a mask is used. In addition to applying to race and society, this poem can be applied to any situation where someone uses a mask to hide the truth.

    We wear the mask that grins and lies,
    It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
    This debt we pay to human guile;
    With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
    And mouth with myriad subtleties.

    Why should the world be over-wise,
    In counting all our tears and sighs?
    Nay, let them only see us, while
           We wear the mask.

    We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
    To thee from tortured souls arise.
    We sing, but oh the clay is vile
    Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
    But let the world dream otherwise,
           We wear the mask!

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  14. 12. London

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    In the streets of London, William Blake paints a portrait of a city burdened with suffering and oppression. From the marked faces of weakness and woe to the cries of anguish and the shackles of the mind, he captures the harsh realities of a society where even the most vulnerable, like chimney sweepers and soldiers, bear the weight of their circumstances. Amidst the curses of harlots and the tears of infants, Blake reveals the dark underbelly that plagues the institution of marriage. Through his poignant words, he offers a glimpse into the complex tapestry of London's existence.

    I wander thro' each charter'd street,
    Near where the charter'd Thames does flow.
    And mark in every face I meet
    Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

    In every cry of every Man,
    In every Infants cry of fear,
    In every voice: in every ban,
    The mind-forg'd manacles I hear

    How the Chimney-sweepers cry
    Every blackning Church appalls,
    And the hapless Soldiers sigh
    Runs in blood down Palace walls

    But most thro' midnight streets I hear
    How the youthful Harlots curse
    Blasts the new-born Infants tear
    And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse

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  15. 13. A Dream Within A Dream

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    Poe is describing feelings of desperation and sadness at the passing of time, and comparing it to a dream. He wishes he could hold on to just a moment of his life. He questions if anything in life is real or is it all "but a dream within a dream?"

    "A Dream Within a Dream" by Edgar Allan Poe was first published in 1849.

    Take this kiss upon the brow!
    And, in parting from you now,
    Thus much let me avow —
    You are not wrong, who deem
    That my days have been a dream;
    Yet if hope has flown away
    In a night, or in a day,
    In a vision, or in none,
    Is it therefore the less gone? 
    All that we see or seem
    Is but a dream within a dream.

    I stand amid the roar
    Of a surf-tormented shore,
    And I hold within my hand
    Grains of the golden sand —
    How few! yet how they creep
    Through my fingers to the deep,
    While I weep — while I weep!
    O God! Can I not grasp
    Them with a tighter clasp?
    O God! can I not save
    One from the pitiless wave?
    Is all that we see or seem
    But a dream within a dream?

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  16. 14. The Genius Of The Crowd

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    Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) warns of people who say one thing but have actions that show something different. The hypocrisy of these people is extremely dangerous, and their hatred creates an incredible amount of destruction. Charles used his writing to shed light on the less glorious parts of urban life. Some people were offended by his writing style, but he held back nothing.

    There is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average
    Human being to supply any given army on any given day

    And the best at murder are those who preach against it
    And the best at hate are those who preach love
    And the best at war finally are those who preach peace

    Those who preach god, need god
    Those who preach peace do not have peace
    Those who preach peace do not have love

    Beware the preachers
    Beware the knowers
    Beware those who are always reading books
    Beware those who either detest poverty
    Or are proud of it
    Beware those quick to praise
    For they need praise in return
    Beware those who are quick to censor
    They are afraid of what they do not know
    Beware those who seek constant crowds for
    They are nothing alone
    Beware the average man the average woman
    Beware their love, their love is average
    Seeks average

    But there is genius in their hatred
    There is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
    To kill anybody
    Not wanting solitude
    Not understanding solitude
    They will attempt to destroy anything
    That differs from their own
    Not being able to create art
    They will not understand art
    They will consider their failure as creators
    Only as a failure of the world
    Not being able to love fully
    They will believe your love incomplete
    And then they will hate you
    And their hatred will be perfect

    Like a shining diamond
    Like a knife
    Like a mountain
    Like a tiger
    Like hemlock

    Their finest art

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  17. 15. Windows

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    You’ve probably heard the saying, “The grass is greener on the other side.” This poem captures that sentiment. Often, we look longingly at what others have while looking down on what is ours. The irony is that others see such beauty in what we have.

    I looked through others' windows
        On an enchanted earth,
    But out of my own window-
        Solitude and dearth.

    And yet there is a mystery
        I cannot understand-
    That others through my window
        See an enchanted land.

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  18. 16. Leisure

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    We are often in such a hurry in life that we move from one thing to the next without stopping to notice the beauty around us. Famous poet W.H. Davies (1871-1940) reminds us that life passes by quickly, and he encourages readers to take moments to “stand and stare.” W.H. Davies was a Welsh poet who devoted himself to writing poetry in his late 20s. Many of his poems were filled with themes of hardship and the natural world.

    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 and 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

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  19. 17. It's Fine Today

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    In this world, we face troubles of many kinds. Things are not always going to go our way. Some people wallow in that misery, but others have a positive perspective and can push past the trouble they face. What makes the difference? Douglas Malloch (1877-1938) shares the answer in this poem. When we don’t focus on our problems, they get smaller and smaller. We can’t worry about what happened in the past or what could happen in the future. Instead, we need to look at what is positive for us today. Douglas Malloch came from simple roots, and that simplicity is seen in the dialect of this poem.

    Sure, this world is full of trouble
         I ain't said it ain't.
    Lord, I've had enough and double
         Reason for complaint;
    Rain and storm have come to fret me,
         Skies are often gray;
    Thorns and brambles have beset me
         On the road — but say,
         Ain't it fine today?

    What's the use of always weepin',
         Making trouble last?
    What's the use of always keepin'
         Thinkin' of the past?
    Each must have his tribulation —
         Water with his wine;
    Life, it ain't no celebration,
         Trouble? — I've had mine —
         But today is fine!

    It's today that I am livin',
         Not a month ago.
    Havin'; losin'; takin'; givin';
         As time wills it so.
    Yesterday a cloud of sorrow
         Fell across the way,
    It may rain again tomorrow,
         It may rain — but say,
         Ain't it fine today?

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    Wow, this poem gives a cool perspective on life. This poem makes one realize worrying doesn't help.

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  20. 18. Sympathy

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    Paul Laurence Dunbar worked at the Library of Congress for slightly over a year from September 1897-December 1898. He was the first poet to give a poetry reading at the Library of Congress. During his time working there, he was inspired to write “Sympathy,” which was published the following year in a poetry collection. Paul Laurence Dunbar suffered from tuberculosis. Dealing with the dust of books in a hot and confined space negatively impacted his health. It made him feel like a bird stuck in a cage, calling out to be free to enjoy the wind, the grass, and the river. However, “Sympathy” also has a deeper symbolism of the oppression of African American people. Maya Angelou used the last line of this poem as the title of her bestselling autobiography.

    I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
        When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;   
    When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,   
    And the river flows like a stream of glass;
        When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,   
    And the faint perfume from its chalice steals—
    I know what the caged bird feels!

    I know why the caged bird beats his wing
        Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;   
    For he must fly back to his perch and cling   
    When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
        And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars   
    And they pulse again with a keener sting—
    I know why he beats his wing!

    I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
        When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—
    When he beats his bars and he would be free;
    It is not a carol of joy or glee,
        But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,   
    But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings—
    I know why the caged bird sings!

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  21. 19. Richard Cory

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    A narrative poem, "Richard Cory" was first published in 1897, as part of The Children of the Night. It is one of Robinson's most popular and published poems. The poem describes a person who is wealthy, well-educated, mannerly, and admired by the people in his town. Despite all this, he takes his own life.

    Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
    We people on the pavement looked at him:
    He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
    Clean favored, and imperially slim.

    And he was always quietly arrayed,
    And he was always human when he talked;
    But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
    "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.

    And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -
    And admirably schooled in every grace:
    In fine, we thought that he was everything
    To make us wish that we were in his place.

    So on we worked, and waited for the light,
    And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
    And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
    Went home and put a bullet through his head.

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  22. 20. Work

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    When we look at our work as a burden, we can quickly become discouraged and discontent. Often, people wish they didn't have to work, but there's a blessing in being able to work. To have a job is to have a gift. Henry van Dyke (1852-1933) challenges himself and others to change the way we look at our jobs. Even when work is challenging, exhausting, tedious, or overwhelming, let's look at the blessing we have.

    Let me but do my work from day to day,
    In field or forest, at the desk or loom,
    In roaring market-place or tranquil room;
    Let me but find it in my heart to say,
    When vagrant wishes beckon me astray,
    "This is my work; my blessing, not my doom;
    "Of all who live, I am the one by whom
    "This work can best be done in the right way."

    Then shall I see it not too great, nor small,
    To suit my spirit and to prove my powers;
    Then shall I cheerful greet the labouring hours,
    And cheerful turn, when the long shadows fall
    At eventide, to play and love and rest,
    Because I know for me my work is best.

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