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.
Notes
July 20, 1838. The lyrical form of this poem is abab.
"Mr. Longfellow said of this poem: 'I kept it
some time in manuscript, unwilling to show it to any one, it being a voice from my inmost heart, at a time when I was rallying from depression.' Before it was published in the Knickerbocker Magazine, October,
1838, it was read by the poet to his college class
at the close of a lecture on Goethe. Its title, though
used now exclusively for this poem, was originally,
in the poet's mind, a generic one. He notes from time to time that he has written a psalm, a psalm of death, or another psalm of life. The 'psalmist' is thus the poet himself. When printed in the Knickerbocker it bore
as a motto the lines from Crashaw:
Life that shall send
A challenge to its end,
And when it comes, say, Welcome, friend."
(Editor's note.) Literally, the psalmist is of course King David.
13."Ars longa vita brevis est" (an aphorism by Hippocrates).
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Comments
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Thank you to that annonymous teacher who set her / his (?) class the exercise of reading and understanding this poem since all the comments made me want to read and understand it as well.
I think the message is fairly simple and could be summed up in Longfellow's own line
Act, — act in the living Present!
I believe he is saying that we are all caught on this one-way-street from cradle to grave and can either plod along mechanically or do our best to live and learn and leave guide-stones and markers for those who follow after us on the same journey.
PS thanks to the members of the class who left comments as well. -
From guest Haley Woods (contact)
The poem, "A Psalm of Life", is very inspirational. To me it basically explains how I feel about my life, wrapped up in a poem that I would never be able to write. The stanza that really connected to me the most is "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!" That just explains me in the long run, I've always hide and followed other people in my life until I went to Tech and decided that I didn't want to follow anymore, I wanted to be a leader, I wanted to inspire others insted of acting like someone who wasn't really me. This poem has really touched me a lot and really gives me hope in my future. even though the poem accuires dying in it and later on it mentions having courage, faith, and hope and being a leader. -
home work
From guest taylor inkley (contact)
taylor inkley when i first read this poem i wasn't to sure wat i thought about, if i liked it didn't like or what.but then read through the poem a couple of times a little slower and then i started to understand the meaning of this poeom by Mr longfellow. i think that he wrote this poem because at this time in his life he was just taking each day one at a time and was just realy savoring the moment of each and every day -
Homework Reveiw
From guest Jake F. (contact)
I didn't really like the Poem. I couldn't see anything. When I read a poem, I look for things that I can Visualize, Clearly. This had plenty of very nice lines, but nothing that stood out to me in particular. Other than that, I found the poem pretty averagte. Ive read deeper, more soul searching poems...I think. On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 6. -
homework
From guest MelanieW (contact)
This poem, "A Psalm of Life", by Longfellow is slightly depressing but almost inspiring in an unusual way. I think it's depressing because it does switch the veiw of a heartbeat meaning life to a more morbid view of your heartbeat becoming the beat of your funeral march. But just a few stanzas later it is hopeful by saying that the footprints you leave behind can inspire another to follow, and give them a new reason to go forward. Also in the last stanza it says "Let us then be up and doing, with a heart for any fate" meaning that you can't just waste your time away because of worrying over what is unknown. The poem is almost saying that death is inevitable, but you have to leave behind something that is not just a pass of time, something that can help another find their way. -
Homework
From guest Zach C. (contact)
I've got to say, for someone who isn't all that into poetry, I really liked this poem. It has a great message that you should live life to the fullest and to leave an impact while your doing it. My favorite line from the poem would have to be, "And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time;", because I really like the comparison of footprints to the marks we make in history. Overall I'd have to say that this is a pretty awesome poem. -
Homework
From guest Gabe (contact)
“A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is not about all the things in life that you should do to make your life better but about all the chances that you have and how you will never get them back. When he stated in stanza one that life is but an empty dream he means that life starts clean and every decision will change your success, peoples respect for you, and your overall image. All of those characteristics are determined by what you do and in order for you to make a difference you cannot follow the path that everyone else in life is taking, but create your own and stand out. The first time I read this poem it did not phase me, but the more I read it as I did this assignment I started to see what it meant about how you only get out of life as much as you put into it and how you must act on all your chances because they might not come again. If your actions were great and appreciated by others they will be remembered by other people and inspire them make their own path and have a good life. The first time reading this poem I would have gave it a 1/5 but now that I can understand it better and have thought about it I would be glad to give it a 5/5. -
Review homework
From guest Nathaniel N (contact)
I think it is an okay poem but I think it is kind of boring. I like the point about life is real not a dream. Also I like how it talks about leaving footprints in the sand of time, it is a good metaphor. -
First I'll thank the Mod who posted this poem and added the notes, they were very informative.
Not much else to state: the poem is quite obvious, is pleasing to read, and while the poem's subject may not be original, it still bears repeating...and following...if that is possible.
Plus, he was a Mainer.
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homework
From guest jonr (contact)
“A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a poem with a lot of meaning. I would give the poem 4 out of 5 stars if I was to rate it. I love the message it sends in that seize the moment and live life the best as you can. Reading this a second time out of class and really trying to understand what he is saying made this poem just jump out of me. Also, I like the other message about be a leader and not a follower. The way he says that, “Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife”. I love the way he puts that as don’t be a cattle that follows its leader, but be a leader in the battle of life. Life is just a battle to always be better and you can never give up. The whole poem he is giving tips of how to live life to its fullest. The sixth stanza also jumps out at me by saying don’t dwell on the past or just dream about the future, but live life in the present and focus on right now. This poem helps me put life into perspective as by he bluntly says that we are all going to die, but that should not effect the way you live except for you should know that one day that will come and hopefully looking back you are happy with the life you lived. After reading this poem for a second time I really started to appreciate it more. From reading this poem I hope I will be able to remember to live life to its fullest and not dwell on the past but live for the present. -
A great poem to remember
From guest skye (contact)
I think this is a great poem and very well thoght out.I doing a project one this poem and it is the best one I've read all day. -
longfellow vs. God 2
From guest jimmy (contact)
I don't think that longfellow was contradicting the teachings of god or the bible in this poem. i think he is just saying that you should seize the opporunities that come your way, and make the most of the time that you have on earth. Then again i know nothing about poetry and don't care to so i could be misinterpreting the message. -
Longfellow vs. God
From guest Brittany (contact)
I'm doing a paper on Longfellow vs. God and if this poem contradicts the bible. which in this case i dont think it does, but i also dont think we should live by it,guest Diane. If there is anything to live by it should not be a worthless poem, but something that will last like the bible, im not saying religon, but i am saying having a relationship with God the creator of the universe just like longfellow created this poem so God created us and shouldnt we thank him for it. I have nothing against the poem and think it is extraordinary, but living be it i dont agree. -
"Ars longa, vita brevis"
From guest Bruce Francis Kennedy (contact)
It is unlikely that Hippocrates attached the meaning to this aphorism that is commonly accepted as "conventional wisdom" (and repeated by Longfellow in his poem), namely, that the works of art are long enduring, outlasting the life of man which is short. It is rather more probable that Hippocrates meant that a long time is required to acquire the "art" (or technique, which is one of the meanings of "techne", the Greek word in the original) of a craft (such as medicine), and that the span of life within which one can acquire it is short. Anyone who has ever undertaken to master the art (skill, craft, technique) of a profession knows the more probable meaning of the aphorism that Hippocrates intended to attach to it. -
IT'S WHAT LIFE IS REALLY.....
From guest Victor (contact)
I am a student from the nineth grade & have this poem for my exam. First of all this poem has a very true meaning. It had a gr8 impact on my life. Sir H.W. Longefellow's veiws on life are absolutely correct. I look farward to follow this poem........... -
A treasure
A very touching piece of Longfellow, one that digs deep in our own view and song of life, and I truly enjoyed reading one of his remarkable pieces, and one I would nay be a respite to come back to delve the words again. -
nice
From guest vinay (contact)
i like this poem ver much sir and iam also the fan of HW Longfellow this poems explanation is also good and understandable -
Are you kidding me? This guy was intelligent.The way he brung out life within his work is INCREDIBLE.
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A Psalm Of Life
From guest Diane (contact)
This psalm should be read daily to this generation. A generation that tends not only to lack coping skills, but one that approaches difficulties with long term therapy and re-lives every horrible moment with victimization. This psalm is truly the outlook of the generation after WWII. Make of life what you can, strive to accomplish your dreams, work hard for self gradification, learn to love and to be loved. For God has given us a gift, and not to make the most of life is a SIN and a waste. I read this psalm to my grand-daughter age 8, as well as "The Children's Hour". Words worth repeating and living by !!!! -
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Actually it is the generation after the Napoleonic wars, 100 years before WW1, but I know what you mean.
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Definitely not written in couch potato generation!
Supreme verse to encourage, challenge and reward
--a true spirit lifter for one person or your new officers
whoever you need to share it with....for so much to be
written in so few verses....maybe unsurpassed! -
A call to action
From guest IRV MILJONER (contact)
I used this poem as the inspiration for a motivational column I wrote for a Federal Managers Association newsletter. Where more do folks feel they are powerless to ACT and make a substantive change than in the worlds of big bureacracies. Where, them is it that much more important to ACT, and exercise the soul, to keep it from slumbering and dying. -
Source Of My Interest
From guest Richard Morse (contact)
Was prompted to this query by recalling this poem after talking with an archeologist friend about the discovery by one of the Leakys(archiologists) of footprints of prehistoric Lucy in ancient river bed sand in Africa. -
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A Psalm of Life
From guest X (contact)
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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amazing
i totally admire dis poet!& talking about dis poem its awesome!it tells us what life is.& how can v make a difference in other lifes.this poem can simply touch any1s heart as did mine....
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wonderful..
my overall reaction, the wisdom held within these lines, let the dead take care of the dead, rejoice in life, live it to it's full, live it not to its ultimate ending, but live it for it is all and the only life you will ever have......wonderful work, truly enjoyable.... -
refreshing
It is always great when a poem stands the test of time. Lines 21-28 are so powerful in that the poet makes the reader focus on the here and now. I wonder if President Kennedy read this poem, because his speech, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" has the same reflective, action-driven force.
Be present in the now. What can you do? "Let us, then, be up and doing,/With a heart for any fate."
I was watching We Were Soldiers the other night, and so many decisions had to be made on the battle front. Men knew they were going to die. It was interesting to see what each person chose to do and how to act. The best part was watching the DVD special features. So much of what was revealed remind me of this poem.
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astounding
i love this, as I read it again, do tell my heart why... -
Exclusive
A man with a great heart, the classic verses read so nicely as if into time that has drawn all conclusions, very wonderful piece indeed~ -
sublime
I know this poem is a deep truth, and it echoes in my heart. -
All-Around Pleasure
Metrics, voice, message... This was such a pleasant read... and considering that Longfellow doesn't have 'that' much metrical poetry, I counted it an extra treat that this one was so intact.
Great allusion. -
awesome
I really enjoy this poem. It makes me want to strive to be a better person. -
I had to memorize this poem in 4th grade. I love and it has inspired me f or all the years;now I want to forward this to my grandson,Gregory, who wrote me at 17 that he wants to hear what my thoughts are about deathfor he is afraid of death. hence,this wonderful poem. How can I forward this to his address?
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i luv this poem its really inspiring!!!
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amazing poem! i loved it!!!
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My sweetest memory of childhood is this poem...I love it the most.P.S. I am at my 70s now !
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this is something really wonderful...an excellent analysis of the human life.
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I'm so glad that a contest I'm in required to read a poem because I'd forgotten where this poem was and in need to be honest about my favorite Old Poetry poem I had to diligently find. I still LOVE this poem.
Thank You to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and to Simply Poetry [Contest] by poet, Someones-Nobody.
Edited on Jul 08, 10:47 because ''. -
I absolutely love this poem! It is a call to thrive in a life full of meaning, using your heart in soul in all that you do and to live for God. It really speaks to me. I love the lines "Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait."
Brilliant! -
I cannot beleive that you are so ignorant! I have to write an entire essay about this poem and after reading it only a few times everything falls into place,
When he writes that the soul is dead that slumbers, he means that if your soul is dormant or asleep it may as well be dead because you're not using it,
When great men leave footprints in the sands of time, he means that they leave footprints in the sand that stand the test of time, they are remembered - they make a difference!
Cattle are the conformists - they do not think for themselves, society thinks for them, and they are all the same.
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This poem is beautiful. I love that it applies to our lives as much as it applied to those in the 1800's. I am so glad to finally find others who feel the same.
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I read this poem in my Accelerated English class and it really touched me. I really enjoy reading this poem.
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wow wat u said is very true and i couldnt have said it better myself.
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"Heart within, and God o'erhead!"
It’s a beauty! .......after a long time I am reading such a classical piece of thought...I LOVE THIS POEM..
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I LOVE this poem. I am part of AP, and have been reading a lot of old poetry lately. Do you think you could tell me how to get connected on here? I would really like to!
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Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
That line is the most poetic, and insightful and breathtaking I have ever ever read! I applaud you on that line alone!
And now back to reading the rest of your poem. -
This is a very inspirational poem. The concept of living only in the present is a very difficult thing for me, as the regrets of the past and hopes of the future can be very troublesome and misleading at times. This brings out feelings of...almost like confidence. Strength and belief in oneself. The thought he expresses in this, one how to live through each day, is one I firmly sympathize with and believe in.
The meaning of this is very clear. Just live. Don't be hindered by the fear of oncoming, certain death, or whatever mistakes you may've made before, live by the second and only plan ahead that far. The is no concrete point in life, nothing is sure and steady, so don't live like it is going to be that way.
This has a very punctual, powerful rhythm. It works great for this, as the theme and message of it is a very strong, very passionate one. The wording, flow, everything in this goes perfectly hand in hand. I don't think it could've been written any better.
This is an excellent write, one I'm also going to save. I find it to be very uplifting, very inspirational. I'm sure I'll find myself reading this again soon. -
This is my all time favorite poem. It is a call to all to stand up, and live life not as a follower of others but as a follower of God. It cries out against death, because we are still alive and we're supposed to act like it. By the way, I believe the part about "for the soul is dead that slumbers" means that the sleeping soul might as well be dead, and pretty much already is. Strong language, strong feelings, beautiful... I love it, I love it, I love it!!!
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The first time I read this back in High School in an English class, I knew right then and there that this was going to be my favorite poem in the world. Many years later, there have been some that came close, but in no way, shape or form have surpassed it.
I look at my own life and try to apply to it what I get out of this poem; To live life to its fullest, like each day could be my last. To make my mark in the sands with footprints that will never wash away.
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This is one of my favorites of Mr. Longfellows works. It speaks volumes and is just overall brilliant in my honest opinion
always a joy to read
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THis was my favourite poem in school, love reading it again. THe words are so simple adn yet so prfound.
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. -
give an intro for every poem
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dude, its nice that all these ppl like this poem and all...but i have to do a project on this 2nite. now if try thinkin in my position, i bet u wouldnt like the poem so much. pz
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Love this poem
About the point on the line "The soul is dead that slumbers"...
I have always taken it to mean that a person (or soul) who "slumbers" through life, milling around like cattle, thinking life's an empty dream to end in death and dust alone, is really already dead, because in their lack of hope, that have stopped truely living. -
I love this poem. It has an uplifting message and it also provokes me to think.
krishna -
Five Star***** Triple A+++ plus
Winston Churchill is famous for saying, "Never, Never, Never Give Up." I cannot help but wonder if he read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem here, "A Psalm of Life." I often say when I end my writings to those I'm writing to: I leave you a present...HAPPY TODAY. As well the coined phrase, "Today is a gift. That's why it is called the PRESENT" echoes the theme of this EXCELLENT poem, "A Psalm of Life." I just read above that Henry Wadsforth Longfellow said this poem was written when he was "rallying from depression." Indeed, the best wisdom is learned from experience and the greatest wisdom is that wisdom which is shared. Saying, "Don't give up...you can make it back up...SELF MATTERS...and that includes you. Come back from your sorrow...your life awaits you waiting for you to live it and live it well. -
HIde:
This stanza only reinforces my point:
"And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul. "
This stanza makes lines 3 and 4 too funny; this stanza rejects lines 3 and 4.
If life is real, then Longfellow should have entered this debate a little differently in his poem. The soul is alive period, and in death, who knows might be better way to answer it.
Cattle are not on the battle field, it is just not the way war works. It is a mixed metaphor. I hope men are not dumb like cattle roaming around eating grasses in such a horrid horrific time and place!
This poem is poorly constructed from the beginning and the metaphors are the problem throughout this piece.
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Lovespoon, I would interpret this piece as follows...
1. For the soul is dead that slumbers,
I see as being answered in the following lines:-
"And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul. "
Even in death the soul does not die, but sleeps as in slumber.
2. Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Great men don't leave their footprints on the beach, but in the sands of time, which are a constant.
3 cattle on the battle field?
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
He isn't desribing cattle, but soldiers acting as cattle.
Andrew
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OK. This poem has some odd contradictions:
1. For the soul is dead that slumbers,
How can a soul be dead and yet slumber?
2. Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
If great men leave footprints in the sand on the beach, their
footprints don't last very long.
3. Some might find it hard to envision cattle on the battle field.
Oh well. This wasn't one of his best poems.
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Brilliantly crafted. Longfellow was a true genious. The last line says it all. Learn to labor and to wait .
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If we could live by this poem... a true testemeant of a legend. ~CWM~
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wonderful
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