A Life Well Lived Poem

1. Well Lived
   Poet: Unknown
   
   A life well lived is a precious gift
   Of hope and strength and grace,
   From someone who has made our world
   A brighter, better place
   
   It’s filled with moments, sweet and sad
   With smiles and sometimes tears,
   With friendships formed and good times shared
   And laughter through the years.
   
   A life well lived is a legacy
   Of joy and pride and pleasure,
   A living, lasting memory
   Our grateful hearts will treasure




2. Promise Yourself
   Poet: Christy Larson
   
   To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
   To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to everyone you meet.
   To make everyone you know feel that
   there is something good in them.
   To look at the sunny side of everything
   and make your optimism come true.
   To think only of the best, to work only for the best,
   and expect only the best.
   To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
   as you are about your own.
   To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to
   greater achievements of the future.
   To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and
   give every living creature you meet a smile.
   To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that
   you have no time to criticize others.
   To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
   and too happy to permit the presence of trouble in your mind.




3. What I Live For
   Poet: Unknown
   
   I live for those that love me,
   For those that know me true,
   For the heaven that smiles above me,
   And waits my coming to.
   
   For the course that needs assistance,
   For the wrongs that need resistance,
   For the future in the distance,
   For the good that I can do.




4. Build On Resolve
   Poet: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
   
   Build on resolve, and not upon regret,
   The structure of thy future. Do not grope
   Among the shadows of old sins, but let
   Thine own soul's light shine on the path of hope.
   
   And dissipate the darkness. Waste no tears
   Upon the blotted record of lost years.
   But turn the leaf, and smile, oh, smile to see
   The fair, white pages that remain for thee.




5. You Will Not Be Sorry
   Poet: Unknown
   
   You will not be sorry:
   
   For hearing before judging,
   For thinking before speaking,
   For holding an angry tongue,
   For stopping the ear to a tale-bearer,
   For disbelieving most of the ill reports,
   For relieving the distressed,
   For being kind to everybody,
   For doing good to all men,
   For asking pardon for all wrongs,
   For speaking evil of no one,
   For being courteous to all






6. Reaching For Rainbows
   Poet: Collin McCarty
   
   If we don’t ever take chances,
   we won’t reach the rainbows.
   If we don’t ever search,
   we’ll never be able to find.
   If we don’t attempt to get over
   our doubts and fears,
   we’ll never discover how wonderful
   it is to live without them.
   If we don’t go beyond difficulty,
   we won’t grow any stronger.
   If we don’t keep our dreams alive,
   we won’t have our dreams any longer.
   
   But. . .
   if we can take a chance now and then,
   seek and search, discover and dream,
   grow and go through each day
   with the knowledge that
   we can only take as much as we can give,
   and we can only get as much out of life
   as we allow ourselves to live. . .
   
   Then. . .
   we can be truly happy.
   We can realize a dream or two along the way,
   and we can make a habit of
   reaching out for rainbows
   and coloring our lives
   with wonderful days.




7. Heads, Hearts, And Hands
   Poet: George W. Bungay
   
   Heads that think and hearts that feel,
   Hands that turn the busy wheel,
   Make our life worth living here,
   In this mundane hemisphere:
   Heads to plan what hearts shall do,
   Hearts to bear us bravely through
   Thinking head and toiling hand
   Are the masters of the land.
   
   When a thought becomes a thing,
   Busy hands make hammers ring
   Until honest work has wrought
   Into shape the thinker's thought;
   Which will aid to civilize,
   And make nations great and wise,
   Lifting to a lofty height
   In this age of thought and light.
   
   Miracles of science show
   With their light the way to go;
   Touch a tube of gas, and light
   Blossoms like the stars of night;
   Touch another tube, and lo!
   Streams of crystal waters flow;
   Touch a telegraphic wire,
   And your thought has wings of fire.
   
   Hail to honest hearts and hands,
   And to the head that understands;
   Hands that dare to truth subscribe,
   Hands that never touched a bribe;
   Hearts that hate a deed unjust,
   Hearts that other hearts can trust;
   Heads that plan for others' weal,
   Heads poised over hearts that feel.




8. Our Worth
   Poet: Howard Carleton Tripp
   
   I hold that all of life is used
   In summing up what we are worth,
   As all the elements are fused
   To make this mighty earth.
   
   Not one great act, nor golden deed,
   One glowing speech that was sublime,
   Shall be the only thing we'll need
   To stand the wear of time.
   
   Both love and hate shall be as all.
   Both doubt and faith - all deeds on earth,
   The greatest things, as well as small,
   Shall show our royal worth.
   
   Yea, all we've ever left undone.
   And all we ever do shall be
   The test where Heaven's crown is won.
   And what God's eyes shall see.




9. It Will Show In Your Face
   Poet: Unknown
   
   You don't have to tell how you live each day,
   You don't have to say if you work or you play;
   A tried, true barometer serves in the place,
   However you live, it will show in your face.
   
   The false, the deceit that you bear in your heart.
   Will not stay inside where it first got a start;
   For sinew and blood are a thin veil of lace,
   What you wear in your heart, you wear in your face.
   
   If your life is unselfish, if for others you live,
   For not what you get, but how much you can give;
   If you live close to God in His infinite grace.
   You don't have to tell it, it shows in your face.




10. He Lived A Life
    Poet: H. N. Fifer
    
    What was his creed?
    I do not know his creed, I only know
    That here below, he walked the common road
    And lifted many a load, lightened the task,
    Brightened the day for others toiling on a weary way:
    This, his only need; I do not know his creed.
    
    What was his creed? I never heard him speak
    Of visions rapturous, of Alpine peak
    Of doctrine, dogma, new or old;
    But this I know, he was forever bold
    To stand alone, to face the challenge of each day.
    
    His creed? I care not what his creed;
    Enough that never yielded he to greed,
    But served a brother in his daily need;
    Plucked many a thorn and planted many a flower;
    Glorified the service of each hour;
    Had faith in God, himself, and fellow men
    Perchance he never thought in terms of creed,
    I only know he lived a life, in deed!




11. Today
    Poet: Douglas Malloch
    
    Sure, this world is full of trouble -
    I ain't said it ain't.
    Lord! I've had enough an' double
    Reason for complaint;
    Rain an' storm have come to fret me,
    Skies are often gray;
    Thorns an' brambles have beset me
    On the road - but say,
    Ain't it fine today?
    
    What's the use of always weepin',
    Makin' 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?




life journey quotes



12. The New Creed
    by Edgar Allen Moss
    
    I will start anew this morning' with a higher, fairer creed.
    I will quit this fool complaining of my neighbor's greed;
    I will cease to sit repining while my duty's call is clear.
    
    I will waste no moment whining, and my heart shall know no fear
    I will look sometimes about me for the things that merit praise,
    I will search for hidden beauties that elude the grumbler's gaze;
    
    I will try to find contentment in the path that I must tread,
    I will cease to have resentment when another moves ahead.
    I will not be swayed by envy when my rival's strength is shown,
    
    I will not deny his merit, but I'll try to prove my own;
    I will try to see the beauty spread before me rain or shine;
    I will cease to preach your duty, and be more content with mine




13. Purpose
    Poet: Bryan Waller Procter
    
    Live to some purpose, make thy life
    A gift of use to thee,
    A joy, a good and golden hope,
    A heavenly argosy.




14. A Life Well Lived
    Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
    
    A life well lived is one of love,
    Filled with compassion, kindness, and hugs.
    What you give out comes to you tenfold,
    Bringing joy to hearts that can't be told.
    Kind words and actions are a must do,
    Smiles and laughter in everything you do.
    Through love and understanding you brighten the days
    You touch others' lives in many positive ways.