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My Symphony

To live content with small means.
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
    and refinement rather than fashion.
To be worthy not respectable,
    and wealthy not rich.
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently,
    act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes,
    and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully,
    do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual,
    unbidden and unconscious,
    grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.

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Comments


  • April 1
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    From guest Gansta (contact)
    me likin the poem


  • April 1
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    From guest andy (contact)
    good poem his "symphony", which he summarizes so beautifully: "In a word, to let the spiritual,/unbidden and unconscious,/grow up through the common./This is to be my symphony." The poem reads like a collection of proverbs around a theme of simpleness. "Listen to stars, birds, babes and sages with open heart...". None of these things cost money, only time and energy. The overall message is one of realizing diligence with a sense of excellence; a type of confidence that by applying oneself not for material gains but towards inner fulfillment, the ends will be rewarded with a richness of high quality living. By being true to what is learned by simple life creates a harmony of need and want: The want becomes converted to the basic needs of life. P.I.M.P


  • March 31
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    From guest emily (contact)
    nice poem


  • March 31
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    WOW

    From guest Jacque (contact)
    I can relate to this poem. I like this poem.


  • October 29, 2007
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    From guest JOEY LUNT (contact)
    i really like this poem

  • mermaid7
    January 29, 2007

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    I like Channing's "symphony", which he summarizes so beautifully: "In a word, to let the spiritual,/unbidden and unconscious,/grow up through the common./This is to be my symphony." The poem reads like a collection of proverbs around a theme of simpleness. "Listen to stars, birds, babes and sages with open heart...". None of these things cost money, only time and energy. The overall message is one of realizing diligence with a sense of excellence; a type of confidence that by applying oneself not for material gains but towards inner fulfillment, the ends will be rewarded with a richness of high quality living. By being true to what is learned by simple life creates a harmony of need and want: The want becomes converted to the basic needs of life.