Life changing Poetry

defeat

my defeat ,

my solitude and my aloofness

you are dearer to me than a thousand

triumphs and sweeter to my heart

and all world glory

defeat my defeat

my self-knowledge and my defiance

through you i know that i am yet young

and swift of foot

and not to be trapped by withering

laurels

and in you i have found aloneness

and the joy of being shunned and scorned

defeat my defeat

my shining sword and shield

in your eyes i have read

that to be enthroned is to be enslaved

and to be understood is to be leveled

down

and to be grasped is but to reach one's

fullness

and like a ripe fruit to fall and be

consumed

defeat my defeat

my bold companion

you shall hear my songs and my cries

and my silences

and none but you shall speak to me

of the beating of wings and urging of

seas

and of mountains that burn in the night

and you alone shall climb my steep and

rocky soul

defeat my defeat

my deathless courage you and i

shall laugh together with the storm

and together we shall dig graves for all

that die in us

and we shall stand in the sun with the

will

and we shall be dangerous

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

thus thou art to dust returnest

was not spoken of the soul

not enjoyment and not sorrow

is our destined end of way

but to act that each tomorrow

finds us father then today

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 bivwhack of life

be not like dumb driven cattle

be a hero in the strife

trust no future our pleasant

let the dead past bury its dead

act act in the living present

heart within and god overhead

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 or life's solemn mane

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 learn to wait

if you can keep your head when

all about you are losing theirs

and blaming it on you

if you can trust yourself when all men

doubt you but make allowance

for their doubting too

if you can wait and not be tired by

waiting or being lied about

don't deal in lies

or being hated don't give way

to hating and yet don't look

too good nor talk too wise

if you can dream and not make dreams

your master

if you can think and not make thoughts

your aim

if you can meet with triumph and

disaster

and treat those two imposters just the

same

if you can bear to hear the truth you've

spoken

twisted by knaves to make a trap for

fools

or watch the things you gave your life

to

broken and stoop and build them up

with worn out tools

if you could make one heap of all your

winnings

and risk it on one turn of pitch and

toss

and lose and start again

at your beginnings and never breathe a

word about your loss

if you can force your heart and nerve

and sinew to serve your turn

long after they are gone and so

hold on when there is nothing in you

except the will which says to them

hold on if you can talk with crowds

and keep your virtue or walk with

kings nor lose the common touch

if neither foes nor loving friends can

hurt you if all men count

with you but none too much

if you can fill the unforgiving minute

with sixty seconds worth of distance run

yours is the earth and everything

that's in it and

which is more you'll be a man

my son

out of the night that covers me

black is the pit from pole the pole

i thank whatever gods may be

for my unconquerable soul

in the fell clutch of circumstance

i have not winced nor cried aloud

under the bludgeonings of chance

my head is bloody but unbowed

beyond this place of wrath and tears

looms but the horror of the shade

and yet the menace of the years

finds and shall find me

unafraid

it matters not how straight the gate

how charged with punishments the scroll

i am the master of my fate

i am the captain of my

soul

go placidly amid the noise in the haste

and remember what peace there may be

in silence

as far as possible

without surrender beyond good terms

with all persons

speak your truth quietly and clearly

and listen to others even to the dull

and the ignorant they too

have their story

avoid loud and aggressive persons

they are victations to the spirit

if you compare yourself with others

you may become vain or 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

[Music]

be yourself especially do not

feign affection neither be cynical about

love or in the face of all

myridity and disenchantment

it is as perennial as the grass

take kindly the council 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 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 in your soul

with all its sham drudgery and

broken dreams it is still

a beautiful world

be cheerful strive

to be happy