Keep A-Goin’!
If you strike a thorn or rose,
Keep a-goin’!
If it hails or if it snows,
Keep a-goin’!
‘Taint no use to sit and whine
When the fish ain’t on your line;
Bait your hook an’ keep a-tryin’ -
Keep a-goin’!
When the weather kills your crop,
Keep a-goin’!
Though it’s work to reach the top,
Keep a-goin’!
S’pose you’re out o’ ev’ry dime,
Gittin’ broke ain’t any crime;
Tell the world you’re feelin’ prime -
Keep a-goin’!
When it looks like all is up,
Keep a-goin’!
Drain the sweetness from the cup,
Keep a-goin’!
See the wild birds on the wing,
Hear the bells that sweetly ring,
When you feel like sighin’, sing -
Keep a-goin’!
By Frank Lebby Stanton: as published in L. L. Perry, Wightman F. Melton, and M. D. Collins, editors: “Frank Lebby Stanton: Georgia’s First Poet Laureate” (1938), page 6; the original version of the poem incorporated Southern United States dialect of the time, with ‘ef’ for ‘if’ in the first and third lines
Frank Lebby Stanton was born on 22 February 1857 in Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America. He became a poet, a lyricist, a newspaper editor, and a columnist under the heading “News from Billville” which later became “Up from Georgia.” Frank Lebby Stanton passed on at 69 years of age on 7 January 1927 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
If you strike a thorn or rose,
Keep a-goin’!
If it hails or if it snows,
Keep a-goin’!
‘Taint no use to sit and whine
When the fish ain’t on your line;
Bait your hook an’ keep a-tryin’ -
Keep a-goin’!
When the weather kills your crop,
Keep a-goin’!
Though it’s work to reach the top,
Keep a-goin’!
S’pose you’re out o’ ev’ry dime,
Gittin’ broke ain’t any crime;
Tell the world you’re feelin’ prime -
Keep a-goin’!
When it looks like all is up,
Keep a-goin’!
Drain the sweetness from the cup,
Keep a-goin’!
See the wild birds on the wing,
Hear the bells that sweetly ring,
When you feel like sighin’, sing -
Keep a-goin’!
By Frank Lebby Stanton: as published in L. L. Perry, Wightman F. Melton, and M. D. Collins, editors: “Frank Lebby Stanton: Georgia’s First Poet Laureate” (1938), page 6; the original version of the poem incorporated Southern United States dialect of the time, with ‘ef’ for ‘if’ in the first and third lines
Frank Lebby Stanton was born on 22 February 1857 in Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America. He became a poet, a lyricist, a newspaper editor, and a columnist under the heading “News from Billville” which later became “Up from Georgia.” Frank Lebby Stanton passed on at 69 years of age on 7 January 1927 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Courage
Courage isn’t a brilliant dash,
A daring deed in a moment’s flash;
It isn’t an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
It isn’t a creature of flickered hope
Or the final tug at a slipping rope;
But it’s something deep in the soul of man
That is working always to serve some plan.
Courage isn’t the last resort
In the work of life or the game of sport;
It isn’t a thing that a man can call
At some future time when he’s apt to fall;
If he hasn’t it now, he will have it not
When the strain is great and the pace is hot.
For who would strive for a distant goal
Must always have courage within his soul.
Courage isn’t a dazzling light
That flashes and passes away from sight;
It’s a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait.
It’s part of a man when his skies are blue,
It’s part of him when he has work to do.
The brave man never is freed of it.
He has it when there is no need of it.
Courage was never designed for show;
It isn’t a thing that can come and go;
It’s written in victory and defeat
And every trial a man may meet.
It’s part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
Courage is more than a daring deed:
It’s the breath of life and a strong man’s creed.
By Edgar A. Guest
Edgar Albert ‘Eddie’ Guest was born on 20 August 1881 in Birmingham, England. He immigrated with his family to the United States of America in 1891. From his first published work in the “Detroit Free Press” until his passing in 1959, he penned some 11,000 poems that were syndicated in 300 newspapers and collected into more than twenty books. Mr. Guest is reputed to have had a new poem published in a newspaper every day for more than thirty years. He became known as ‘The People’s Poet,’ writing poems that were of a sentimental and optimistic nature. Edgar Albert ‘Eddie’ Guest passed on at 77 years of age on 5 August 1959 in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America.
Courage isn’t a brilliant dash,
A daring deed in a moment’s flash;
It isn’t an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
It isn’t a creature of flickered hope
Or the final tug at a slipping rope;
But it’s something deep in the soul of man
That is working always to serve some plan.
Courage isn’t the last resort
In the work of life or the game of sport;
It isn’t a thing that a man can call
At some future time when he’s apt to fall;
If he hasn’t it now, he will have it not
When the strain is great and the pace is hot.
For who would strive for a distant goal
Must always have courage within his soul.
Courage isn’t a dazzling light
That flashes and passes away from sight;
It’s a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait.
It’s part of a man when his skies are blue,
It’s part of him when he has work to do.
The brave man never is freed of it.
He has it when there is no need of it.
Courage was never designed for show;
It isn’t a thing that can come and go;
It’s written in victory and defeat
And every trial a man may meet.
It’s part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
Courage is more than a daring deed:
It’s the breath of life and a strong man’s creed.
By Edgar A. Guest
Edgar Albert ‘Eddie’ Guest was born on 20 August 1881 in Birmingham, England. He immigrated with his family to the United States of America in 1891. From his first published work in the “Detroit Free Press” until his passing in 1959, he penned some 11,000 poems that were syndicated in 300 newspapers and collected into more than twenty books. Mr. Guest is reputed to have had a new poem published in a newspaper every day for more than thirty years. He became known as ‘The People’s Poet,’ writing poems that were of a sentimental and optimistic nature. Edgar Albert ‘Eddie’ Guest passed on at 77 years of age on 5 August 1959 in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America.
I Will Be Worthy Of It
I may not reach the heights I seek,
My untried strength may fail me;
Or, half-way up the mountain peak,
Fierce tempests may assail me.
But though that place I never gain,
Herein lies comfort for my pain -
I will be worthy of it.
I may not triumph in success,
Despite my earnest labor;
I may not grasp results that bless
The efforts of my neighbor;
But though my goal I never see
This thought shall always dwell with me -
I will be worthy of it.
The golden glory of Love’s light
May never fall on my way;
My path may always lead through night,
Like some deserted by-way;
But though life’s dearest joy I miss
There lies a nameless strength in this -
I will be worthy of it.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Ella Wheeler Wilcox was born on 5 November 1850 in Johnstown, Rock County, Wisconsin, United States of America. She became a poet, a writer, and a journalist. Ella Wheeler Wilcox passed on at 68 years of age on 30 October 1919 in Short Beach, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States of America.
I may not reach the heights I seek,
My untried strength may fail me;
Or, half-way up the mountain peak,
Fierce tempests may assail me.
But though that place I never gain,
Herein lies comfort for my pain -
I will be worthy of it.
I may not triumph in success,
Despite my earnest labor;
I may not grasp results that bless
The efforts of my neighbor;
But though my goal I never see
This thought shall always dwell with me -
I will be worthy of it.
The golden glory of Love’s light
May never fall on my way;
My path may always lead through night,
Like some deserted by-way;
But though life’s dearest joy I miss
There lies a nameless strength in this -
I will be worthy of it.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Ella Wheeler Wilcox was born on 5 November 1850 in Johnstown, Rock County, Wisconsin, United States of America. She became a poet, a writer, and a journalist. Ella Wheeler Wilcox passed on at 68 years of age on 30 October 1919 in Short Beach, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States of America.
Worst Day Ever?
Today was the absolute worst day ever
And don’t try to convince me that
There’s something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look,
This world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some goodness does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last.
And it’s not true that
It’s all in the mind and heart
Because
True happiness can be attained
Only if one’s surroundings are good
It’s not true that good exists
I’m sure you can agree that
The reality
Creates
My attitude
It’s all beyond my control
And you’ll never in a million years hear me say
Today was a very good day
Now read it from bottom to top, the other way,
And see what I really feel about my day.
By Chanie Gorkin (2014)
Chanie Gorkin wrote the poem, “Worst Day Ever?” while she was a student in the 11th grade at Lubavitch High School Beth Rivkah in Brooklyn, New York, United States of America. In her own words: “It took me a few hours . . . I was scribbling, erasing, writing, trying to figure out how to make it work both ways.” -Chanie Gorkin
Today was the absolute worst day ever
And don’t try to convince me that
There’s something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look,
This world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some goodness does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last.
And it’s not true that
It’s all in the mind and heart
Because
True happiness can be attained
Only if one’s surroundings are good
It’s not true that good exists
I’m sure you can agree that
The reality
Creates
My attitude
It’s all beyond my control
And you’ll never in a million years hear me say
Today was a very good day
Now read it from bottom to top, the other way,
And see what I really feel about my day.
By Chanie Gorkin (2014)
Chanie Gorkin wrote the poem, “Worst Day Ever?” while she was a student in the 11th grade at Lubavitch High School Beth Rivkah in Brooklyn, New York, United States of America. In her own words: “It took me a few hours . . . I was scribbling, erasing, writing, trying to figure out how to make it work both ways.” -Chanie Gorkin
Twelve Rules For Happiness
1. Live a simple life. Be temperate in your habits. Avoid self-seeking and selfishness. Make simplicity the keynote of your daily plans. Simple things are best.
2. Spend less than you earn. It may be difficult, but it pays large dividends in contentment. Keep out of debt. Cultivate frugality, prudence, and self-denial. Avoid extravagance.
3. Think constructively. Train yourself to think clearly and accurately. Store your mind with useful thoughts. Stand porter at the door of your mind.
4. Cultivate a yielding disposition. Resist the common tendency to want your own way. See the other’s viewpoint.
5. Be grateful. Begin the day with gratitude for your opportunities. Be glad for the privilege of life and work.
6. Rule your moods. Cultivate a mental attitude of peace and goodwill.
7. Give generously. There is no greater joy in life than to render happiness to others by means of intelligent giving.
8. Work with right motives. The highest purpose of your life should be to grow in spiritual grace and power.
9. Be interested in others. Divert your mind from self-centeredness. In the degree that you give, serve, and help, will you experience the byproduct of happiness.
10. Live in a daytight compartment. That is, live one day at a time. Concentrate on your immediate task. Make the most of today.
11. Have a hobby. Nature study, walking, gardening, music, golfing, carpentry, stamp collecting, sketching, voice culture, foreign language, chess, books, photography, social service, public speaking, travel, authorship. Cultivate an avocation to which you can turn for diversion and relaxation.
12. Keep close to God.
By Grenville Kleiser
Grenville Kleiser was born on 25 July 1868 in Toronto, Canada. He was married to Elizabeth Margaret Thompson on 5 July 1894. He became an American instructor in public speaking at the Yale Divinity School of Yale University, and a writer of books on humor, inspiration, public speaking, and personal development. Grenville Kleiser passed on at 85 years of age on 27 August 1953 in New York City, New York, United States of America.
1. Live a simple life. Be temperate in your habits. Avoid self-seeking and selfishness. Make simplicity the keynote of your daily plans. Simple things are best.
2. Spend less than you earn. It may be difficult, but it pays large dividends in contentment. Keep out of debt. Cultivate frugality, prudence, and self-denial. Avoid extravagance.
3. Think constructively. Train yourself to think clearly and accurately. Store your mind with useful thoughts. Stand porter at the door of your mind.
4. Cultivate a yielding disposition. Resist the common tendency to want your own way. See the other’s viewpoint.
5. Be grateful. Begin the day with gratitude for your opportunities. Be glad for the privilege of life and work.
6. Rule your moods. Cultivate a mental attitude of peace and goodwill.
7. Give generously. There is no greater joy in life than to render happiness to others by means of intelligent giving.
8. Work with right motives. The highest purpose of your life should be to grow in spiritual grace and power.
9. Be interested in others. Divert your mind from self-centeredness. In the degree that you give, serve, and help, will you experience the byproduct of happiness.
10. Live in a daytight compartment. That is, live one day at a time. Concentrate on your immediate task. Make the most of today.
11. Have a hobby. Nature study, walking, gardening, music, golfing, carpentry, stamp collecting, sketching, voice culture, foreign language, chess, books, photography, social service, public speaking, travel, authorship. Cultivate an avocation to which you can turn for diversion and relaxation.
12. Keep close to God.
By Grenville Kleiser
Grenville Kleiser was born on 25 July 1868 in Toronto, Canada. He was married to Elizabeth Margaret Thompson on 5 July 1894. He became an American instructor in public speaking at the Yale Divinity School of Yale University, and a writer of books on humor, inspiration, public speaking, and personal development. Grenville Kleiser passed on at 85 years of age on 27 August 1953 in New York City, New York, United States of America.
Keep Calm And Carry On
The Ministry of Information (MOI) was formed by the British Government as the department responsible for publicity and propaganda during the Second World War. In late 1939, after the outbreak of war, the MOI was appointed by the British Government to design a number of morale boosting posters that would be displayed across the British Isles during the testing times that lay ahead.
With a bold colored background, the posters were required to be similar in style and feature to the symbolic crown of King George VI, along with a simple yet effective font. The first two posters, ‘Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory’ and ‘Freedom Is in Peril’ were produced by His Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO).
These two were posted on public transport, in shop windows, and upon notice boards across Great Britain. The third and final poster of the set was again very straightforward and to the point, simply reading, ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ The plan in place for this poster was to issue it only upon the invasion of Britain by Germany. As this never happened, the poster was only displayed on a very few office walls and was never officially seen by the public.
It is believed that most of the Keep Calm posters were reduced to pulp and destroyed at the end of the war in 1945. However, nearly 60 years later, a bookseller from Barter Books stumbled across a copy hidden amongst a pile of dusty old books bought from an auction. A small number also remain in the National Archives and the Imperial War Museum in London.
Sadly, no record remains of the unknown civil servant who originally came up with the simple and quintessential Britishness of the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ message. However, it is wonderful to think that all these years later, people still find the message so appealing and reassuring in our modern times.
By Author Unknown
The Ministry of Information (MOI) was formed by the British Government as the department responsible for publicity and propaganda during the Second World War. In late 1939, after the outbreak of war, the MOI was appointed by the British Government to design a number of morale boosting posters that would be displayed across the British Isles during the testing times that lay ahead.
With a bold colored background, the posters were required to be similar in style and feature to the symbolic crown of King George VI, along with a simple yet effective font. The first two posters, ‘Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory’ and ‘Freedom Is in Peril’ were produced by His Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO).
These two were posted on public transport, in shop windows, and upon notice boards across Great Britain. The third and final poster of the set was again very straightforward and to the point, simply reading, ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ The plan in place for this poster was to issue it only upon the invasion of Britain by Germany. As this never happened, the poster was only displayed on a very few office walls and was never officially seen by the public.
It is believed that most of the Keep Calm posters were reduced to pulp and destroyed at the end of the war in 1945. However, nearly 60 years later, a bookseller from Barter Books stumbled across a copy hidden amongst a pile of dusty old books bought from an auction. A small number also remain in the National Archives and the Imperial War Museum in London.
Sadly, no record remains of the unknown civil servant who originally came up with the simple and quintessential Britishness of the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ message. However, it is wonderful to think that all these years later, people still find the message so appealing and reassuring in our modern times.
By Author Unknown
Lend A Hand
I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
Attributed To Edward Everett Hale: as quoted in James Dalton Morrison: "Masterpieces of Religious Verse" (1948), page 416
Edward Everett Hale was born on 3 April 1822 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became Christian Unitarian clergyman and a writer. Edward Everett Hale passed on at 87 years of age on 10 June 1909 in Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
Attributed To Edward Everett Hale: as quoted in James Dalton Morrison: "Masterpieces of Religious Verse" (1948), page 416
Edward Everett Hale was born on 3 April 1822 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became Christian Unitarian clergyman and a writer. Edward Everett Hale passed on at 87 years of age on 10 June 1909 in Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Present Tense
It was Spring,
But it was Summer I wanted,
The warm days,
And the great outdoors.
It was Summer,
But it was Fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves,
And the cool, dry air.
It was Fall,
But it was Winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow,
And the joy of the holiday season.
It was Winter,
But it was Spring I wanted,
The warmth,
And the blossoming of nature.
I was a child,
But it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom,
And respect.
I was twenty,
But it was thirty I wanted,
To be mature,
And sophisticated.
I was middle-aged,
But it was twenty I wanted,
The youth,
And the free spirit.
I was retired,
But it was middle-age I wanted,
The presence of mind,
Without limitations.
My life was over.
But I never got what I wanted.
By Jason Lehman
Jason Lehman was 14 years of age when he wrote the above poem. It was sent to Abigail Van Buren, who after verifying that the poem’s author was indeed ‘a teenager wise beyond his years,’ published it in her newspaper column “Dear Abby” (14 February 1989).
It was Spring,
But it was Summer I wanted,
The warm days,
And the great outdoors.
It was Summer,
But it was Fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves,
And the cool, dry air.
It was Fall,
But it was Winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow,
And the joy of the holiday season.
It was Winter,
But it was Spring I wanted,
The warmth,
And the blossoming of nature.
I was a child,
But it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom,
And respect.
I was twenty,
But it was thirty I wanted,
To be mature,
And sophisticated.
I was middle-aged,
But it was twenty I wanted,
The youth,
And the free spirit.
I was retired,
But it was middle-age I wanted,
The presence of mind,
Without limitations.
My life was over.
But I never got what I wanted.
By Jason Lehman
Jason Lehman was 14 years of age when he wrote the above poem. It was sent to Abigail Van Buren, who after verifying that the poem’s author was indeed ‘a teenager wise beyond his years,’ published it in her newspaper column “Dear Abby” (14 February 1989).
Symphony
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, nor respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to have an oratory in my own heart, and present spotless sacrifices of dignified kindness in the temple of humanity; to spread no opinions glaringly out like show-plants, and yet leave the garden gate ever open for the chosen friend and the chance acquaintance; to make no pretenses to greatness; to seek no notoriety; to attempt no wide influence; to have no ambitious projects; to let my writings be the daily bubbling spring flowing through constancy, swelled by experiences, into the full, deep river of wisdom; to listen to stars and buds, to 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.
By W. H. Channing: as quoted in Octavius Brooks Frothingham: “Memoir of William Henry Channing” (1886), page 166
William Henry Channing was born on 25 May 1810 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became a Christian Unitarian clergyman, a social reformer, and a writer. William Henry Channing passed on at 74 years of age on 23 December 1884 in London, England.
By W. H. Channing: as quoted in Octavius Brooks Frothingham: “Memoir of William Henry Channing” (1886), page 166
William Henry Channing was born on 25 May 1810 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became a Christian Unitarian clergyman, a social reformer, and a writer. William Henry Channing passed on at 74 years of age on 23 December 1884 in London, England.
The Ship That Sails
I’d rather be the ship that sails
and rides the billows wild and free;
Than be the ship that always fails
to leave its port and go to sea.
I’d rather feel the sting of strife,
where gales are born and tempests roar;
Than settle down to a useless life
and rot in dry dock on the shore.
I’d rather fight some mighty wave
with honor in supreme command;
And fill a last well-earned grave,
than die at ease upon the sand.
I’d rather drive where storm winds blow
and be the ship that always failed
To make the ports where it would go,
than be the ship that never sails.
Attributed To Page Belnap
I’d rather be the ship that sails
and rides the billows wild and free;
Than be the ship that always fails
to leave its port and go to sea.
I’d rather feel the sting of strife,
where gales are born and tempests roar;
Than settle down to a useless life
and rot in dry dock on the shore.
I’d rather fight some mighty wave
with honor in supreme command;
And fill a last well-earned grave,
than die at ease upon the sand.
I’d rather drive where storm winds blow
and be the ship that always failed
To make the ports where it would go,
than be the ship that never sails.
Attributed To Page Belnap
