A Psalm Of Life (1892)

A Psalm of Life is a poem written by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1838. The poem is written in the form of a psalm, which is a type of religious song or poem typically found in the Book of Psalms in the Bible. The poem is divided into nine stanzas, each containing four lines, and is written in a simple and straightforward style.The central theme of the poem is the idea that life is not meaningless, but rather has a purpose and a mission that each individual must discover and fulfill. Longfellow encourages the reader to be proactive in finding their purpose and to live life to the fullest, rather than simply going through the motions.The poem begins with the famous lines, ""Tell me not, in mournful numbers, / Life is but an empty dream!"" Longfellow then goes on to argue that life is not a meaningless dream, but rather a real and tangible experience that we must engage with fully. He encourages the reader to be bold and courageous in pursuing their dreams, and to not be discouraged by the challenges and obstacles that they may face.Throughout the poem, Longfellow uses a variety of metaphors and images to convey his message. He compares life to a battle, a pilgrimage, and a journey, all of which require courage, perseverance, and determination. He also emphasizes the importance of faith and hope, suggesting that these qualities are essential for living a fulfilling life.In summary, A Psalm of Life is a powerful and inspiring poem that encourages the reader to live life to the fullest and to discover their purpose and mission in life. It is a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers today, and is a testament to Longfellow's skill as a poet and his deep understanding of the human experience.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.