Meaningful Poems

Meaningful Poems

Meaning of Life Poems

It is the thesis of the great psychoanalyst Viktor Frankl that man can endure any hardship as long as he can find meaning in the experience. Incidentally, as a survivor of Nazi Concentration Camps he was in a position to know. Thankfully, most of us are not tested in such extreme conditions. However, the principle is the same. Human beings cannot live without meaning. Depression is the natural outcome of living a life that is bereft of purpose.

71 Deep Poems about Life

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  1. 1. The Invitation

    The Invitation is a prose poem by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Many years after the poem was written and had become famous, the author wrote a book based on the poem, The Invitation (1999), by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Oriah is a spiritual counselor and story teller, among other things. This poem offers an invitation to every single one of us to "show up" in the universe. She reminds us that we do not serve the universe by being small. Rather, we serve the universe by making the most out of our lives.


    It doesn't interest me
    what you do for a living.
    I want to know
    what you ache for

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    The Invitation By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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    I love this more than words. I think of these words often, especially in times that I feel as though I haven't done much through the years, and I'm sweetly reminded that I HAVE done so much!...

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  3. 2. The True Meaning Of Life

    I have been through hard times, I've struggled like everyone else to find contentment, peace, and an understanding of what life is really about. I believe age has everything to do with finally knowing what life is really about, which is who we are and not what we have.


    The years have passed by
    In the blink of an eye,
    Moments of sadness
    And joy have flown by.

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    I couldn't have said it any better than Patricia Fleming. This is exactly how I feel. I've gone that route where I would buy things in the hope that I would feel better, however, it never...

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  5. 3. My Credo Of Life

    This is my philosophy of life and how to live it. Experience every moment, stay open minded, and cherish life for all that it is.


    Let me live within the moment.
    Let me feel all that I can.
    Let me cherish life for all it's worth,
    With everything I am.

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    Hi Pat! I love this poem and others that you have submitted. You seem to write about life, and I do the same. I like to write from the heart and so do you. They make you stop and think how...

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  6. 4. A Fleeting Image

    Recently, a friend of mine died very suddenly and unexpectedly. He was a talented photographer and a fantastic human being who devoted much of his time to the happiness of others. I had seen him a few weeks before, and he was so vibrant and alive. The death hit me pretty hard, and for the first time in over 20 years I felt compelled to write and the words just flowed. This poem is not so much about death, more so it's about the fleeting nature of life and the uncertainty we feel as we navigate it.
    In Memory Of Jakob Barak


    So fleeting is this thing called life, we journey toward its end,
    experiencing pieces of a puzzle we don't truly comprehend.

    The hues of our emotion paint a picture of our past,

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    I love this poem. Very artful, well balanced, and full of depth. You struck a nerve with me. I often like to say that life has two real purposes. One, to find, build, and refine our...

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  7. 5. A Psalm Of Life

    This inspiring poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, (1807 - 1882) was first published in 1838. It uses an ABAB rhyming pattern. Longfellow explained the poem's purpose as "a transcript of my thoughts and feelings at the time I wrote, and of the conviction therein expressed, that Life is something more than an idle dream." A very famous line from the poem is, "Footprints on the sands of time".


    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.

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    My deceased husband introduced me to this poem 55 years ago, and I've always considered it a great gift.

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  8. 6. Memory Album

    How dull life would be without our memories for company. For some, memories are all they have.

    ​Memories are life's special moments
    Borrowed from the passing of time.
    Ghosts and shadows from bygone days,
    Etched and stored inside our mind.

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    Hi Laurie, I know what you're experiencing with your Mom. My Mom has Parkinson's and Dementia. This year her memory has gotten very bad. She imagines things that don't exist, at times forgets...

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  9. 7. Leisure

    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,

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    This is a wonderful poem and has always been one of my favourites. At this time of lockdown restrictions and protecting ourselves, we have that time to stop and look at the world - to enjoy...

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  10. 8. What Life Should Be

    This is what I've decided life is about. At an older age now, I think a great deal about what life is for.


    To learn while still a child
    What this life is meant to be.
    To know it goes beyond myself,
    It's so much more than me.

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    I teach in an urban district where I have a first-hand look at life from a different perspective. I teach seniors who are getting ready to go into a world where they are thought to be NOT as...

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  11. 9. The Choice Is Mine

    I've had my share of troubles in life, though not as much as some have had. But I've discovered that happiness - or a lack of it - never really comes from my friends or foes. Although they do influence it, it's really up to me.


    Analysis of Form and Technique

    Life may not let me choose my lot,
    But whether I'd be happy or not...
    That is my choice.

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    I really loved this poem. It is simple but lovely, the sort of thing you could hand to anyone having troubles with life. The choice is theirs to let things worry them and spoil their lives or...

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  12. 10. Perfection

    The poem "Perfection" describes how I feel that we all follow the same path. I wrote this piece when I realized I was different than everyone else and would notice others changing to make themselves "fit in."


    • By Matthew
    • Published: June 2016 by Family Friend Poems with the permission of the Author.

    Perfection was created
    to make us feel imperfect,
    but imperfect, of course,
    is the perfect thing to be.

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    This is really a wonderful poem. It reflect what most of us strive for. My heart became light as I realized I need to be happy rather than perfect. Thank you.

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  13. 11. Remember Me

    Everyone wants to be remembered when they leave this world. I wrote this because we only have today. Tomorrow we are not promised. I learned that the hard way when I lost my mom. I know if she could have, these are some of the things she would have said.


    If I were to leave this world today, I'd want to be remembered, it's true,
    for going that extra mile just to show my love for you.
    I'd want for you to be proud of me and know I always tried.
    When you hurt, I did, too; your tears I also cried.

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    Beautiful poem. It inspires me a lot with Einstein's words, "Try not to be a success but of value." It goes into my inner core and resonates a deep feeling in me, to live a purposeful life....

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  14. 12. A Day Away

    I've struggled with depression most of my life. I tend to see the worst in things and often need to be reminded of things most people do naturally. This short poem is one of those reminders. A great tragedy occurs when the bad days numb us to the good ones. Try to enjoy the good days, because they don't last that long. Try not to fear the bad days, because they won't last that long. Whether time is currently your friend or foe, however it can help you today, remember today won't last that long.


    Some feelings are shallow, some feelings are deep.
    Some make us smile, some make us weep.

    Some we love, some we don't.

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    I, too, have dealt with depression most of my life. I have learned two things. Feelings are just that. They are fleeting. They come and they go. I have also learned to rely on my rock, my...

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  15. 13. Remember

    Useful advice about living life. It describes how to make it through the difficult times and make a meaningful life.

    As I walk through life,
    I look at all I have done.
    I had wandered aimlessly
    And wondered what I have become.

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    Poem With Useful Advice To Live By, Remember

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    A wonderful poem and every word is true. At the moment, a dreadful trauma my hubby is going through, that goes for me too. He was suddenly struck down with sepsis and was seriously ill. He...

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  16. 14. Remembering Will Have To Do

    Wouldn't it be nice to have a picture book created of your life and all the beautiful moments that have passed so during hard times you can still find peace and joy?

    If I could create a picture book of
    memories from the past,
    every chapter a masterpiece
    of unforgettable moments rehashed.

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  17. 15. Something To Tame

    I think once in a while we all need a simple reminder of the power of the tongue.

    I have seen what words can do,
    As I deal with people everywhere;
    The tongue is powerful, it's true!
    Something to tame and use with care.

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    That was such a kind and honest evaluation. I can't take all the credit for this particular poem though. I owe it to my mum - the first person to point out Prov. 15:1 to me in the Bible, and...

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  18. 16. My Creed

    Edgar Guest inspires readers to live lives that are filled with integrity. He also shows the desire to live in a way that accepts things as they come and push through no matter the obstacles faced. We each have a set of rules and expectations that govern the way we live. Have you ever thought about what drives your day-to-day thoughts and actions? Edgar Guest (1881-1959) wrote many encouraging and motivational poems about life.

    To live as gently as I can;
    To be, no matter where, a man;
    To take what comes of good or ill
    And cling to faith and honor still;

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  19. 17. In The Garden Of Your Heart

    I just turned 98 and am so grateful to be rational and positive in my thinking. I see so much of the opposite and often wonder what brings a person to that state of mind. Many things can contribute, but I think being self-centered is a big factor. Keeping an active mind is so essential. I've created over 1500 crossword puzzles, making one every night over the last years. Knowing they will be used to give others enjoyment is a happiness.

    What seeds have you been planting
    In the garden of your heart?
    What will be forthcoming
    When the germination starts?

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    I am suffering due to a deformity in my feet which I got in my teenage years. But I never gave up anything in life. I continued my studies and secured a good position in society. I got...

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  20. 18. It's Fine Today

    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;

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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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  21. 19. Holidays

    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet who lived from 1807-1882. He experienced tragedy in his life with the unexpected death of two wives. In this poem, he shows that we all have special moments in our lives that we celebrate, and they become our own personal holidays. They are days to remember certain people or events that have impacted our lives. Longfellow uses similes in this poem to show the purity of those meaningful holidays.

    The holiest of all holidays are those
    Kept by ourselves in silence and apart;
    The secret anniversaries of the heart,
    When the full river of feeling overflows;--

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  22. 20. Everyone Is Searching

    My name is Danielle. I'm a teen poet and artist. My poem "Everyone is Searching" is about humanity as a whole. It's about yearning and looking, of wanting and needing. It's about basic human desire and the drive behind human greed. My poem explores this idea of what we are really looking for and why we need more. Whether it be love or money, everybody is searching. Everybody wants to find happiness. Not many realize they have all they need. Not until it's gone.

    • By Danielle L. Somack
    • Published: December 2019 by Family Friend Poems with the permission of the Author.

    Everyone is searching
    for the missing piece in life.
    The key to unlock the door
    and steal back all lost time.

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    This is such a perceptive and mature poem from one so young. Her message in this poem is "Happiness is knowing when you have enough. Be thankful and grateful for what you have."

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