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"A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a poem that encourages readers to live their lives with purpose and passion, and to make the most of every day. The poem begins by asserting that life is short and fragile, and that it is important to live it to the fullest while we can. Longfellow writes:
"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."
The poem goes on to say that we should not waste our lives in idleness or regret, but should instead strive to achieve our dreams and make a positive impact on the world. Longfellow writes:
"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."
He also advises us to be true to ourselves and to our convictions, and not to be swayed by the opinions of others. Longfellow writes:
"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!"
The poem concludes with a call to action, urging us to live our lives with passion and purpose, and to make the most of every day. Longfellow writes:
"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."