Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.


Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.


But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself.


Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.


Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.


Be cheerful.


Strive to be happy.
---Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

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At various points in my life Desiderata has given me great comfort. Loud and aggressive persons learned to be avoided.  I always managed to remain interested in my career, because I loved helping others.  Learned to be my self.  Now I am trying to take kindly the counsel of the years and be gentle with my self.  I do strive to be cheerful and happy and these words always bolster my spirits.

Weathers by Thomas Hardy

This is the weather the cuckoo likes, 

And so do I; 

When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, 

And nestlings fly; 

And the little brown nightingale bills his best, 

And they sit outside at 'The Traveller's Rest,' 

And maids come forth sprig-muslin drest, 

And citizens dream of the south and west, 

And so do I. 

This is the weather the shepherd shuns, 

And so do I; 

When beeches drip in browns and duns, 

And thresh and ply; 

And hill-hid tides throb, throe on throe, 

And meadow rivulets overflow, 

And drops on gate bars hang in a row, 

And rooks in families homeward go, 

And so do I. 

The Last Wolf by Mary TallMountain

The Last Wolf

by Mary TallMountain

The last wolf hurried toward me


through the ruined city


and I heard his baying echoes


down the steep smashed warrens


of Montgomery Street and past


the ruby-crowned highrises


left standing


their lighted elevators useless


Passing the flicking red and green


of traffic signals


baying his way eastward


in the mystery of his wild loping gait


closer the sounds in the deadly night


through clutter and rubble of quiet blocks


I hear his voice ascending the hill


and at last his low whine as he came


floor by empty floor to the room


where I sat


in my narrow bed looking west, waiting


I heard him snuffle at the door and


I watched


He trotted across the floor


he laid his long gray muzzle


on the spare white spread


and his eyes burned yellow


his small dotted eyebrows quivered


Yes, I said.


I know what they have done.