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3 Life is but an empty dream! 4 For the soul is dead that slumbers, 5 And things are not what they seem. 6 Life is real! Life is earnest! 7 And the grave is not its goal; 8 Dust thou art, to dust returnest, 9 Was not spoken of the soul. 10 Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, 11 Is our destined end or way; 12 But to act, that each to-morrow
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- October 9, 1995
- Poetry Analyst And Editor
- 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. The speaker of ‘A Psalm of Life’ begins by asking something of his listener.
- 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 narrator continues on with what reads as a desperate attempt to contradict what he was afraid of in the first stanza.
- Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow. Find us farther than to-day. The speaker continues his discussion of the purpose or point of life, He does not believe, nor will he even consider, the possibility that life is made to suffer through.
- 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.
"A Psalm of Life" is a poem written by American writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, often subtitled "What the Heart of the Young Man Said to the Psalmist". [1] Longfellow wrote the poem not long after the death of his first wife and while thinking about how to make the best of life.
A Psalm Of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was first published in October of 1838. The poet was a follower of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who gave great importance to living in the present. Longfellow has openly admitted that there is an influence of Goethe in his own work, and on this poem in particular.
Study Guide for A Psalm of Life. A Psalm of Life study guide contains a biography of Henry Longfellow, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. About A Psalm of Life; Poem Text; A Psalm of Life Summary; Character List; Glossary; Read the Study Guide for A Psalm of Life…
- Henry Longfellow
Nov 5, 2022 · A psalm is a religious or sacred song or hymn, in particular any of those contained in the biblical Book of Psalms and used in Christian and Jewish worship. But here the meaning of “a psalm of life” is a song of life, where the poet glorifies life and its possibilities. It is an invocation to mankind to follow the path of righteousness, the ...
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A Psalm of Life - Tell me not, in mournful numbers, A Psalm of Life - The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets.
