"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."
My 10th grade english teacher had the entire class read and evaluate this poem. what does it mean to me? i'm not sure; it's been a while since i've thought about it. it reminds me a lot of the question "what is the meaning of life?", and i think i've found an answer for myself.
the meaning of life is simply just to live your best life. the grave is not the goal, so make life what you want it to be. and if the grave is the goal of your life, so be it. don't take that the wrong way though. i'm not by any means saying that those who are sick or suicidal or whatever should just end it and pretend it never happened. i'm saying that, if you throw your life away, and become some hateful monster who has no hopes or dreams or aspirations, that's your fault. don't blame anyone else for making your life a waste, essentially.
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Captains Log
Non-Fictionlife through the eyes of someone who has so much to say, but isn't sure of how to say it.
