Sing out, my Soul, thy songs of joy; Such as a happy bird will sing Beneath a Rainbow's lovely arch In early spring. Think not of Death in thy young days; Why shouldst thou that grim tyrant fear, And fear him not when thou art old, And he is near. Strive not for gold, for greedy fools Measure themselves by poor men never; Their standard still being richer men, Makes them poor ever. Train up thy mind to feel content, What matters then how low thy store; What we enjoy, and not possess, Makes rich or poor. Filled with sweet thought, then happy I Take not my state from others' eyes; What's in my mind -- not on my flesh Or theirs -- I prize. Sing, happy Soul, thy songs of joy; Such as a Brook sings in the wood, That all night has been strengthened by Heaven's purer flood. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET: INSCRIPTION FOR A PORTRAIT OF DANTE by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO INSPIRATION by SAMUEL JOHNSON (1822-1882) THE BRAES OF YARROW by JOHN LOGAN (1748-1788) CALIBAN [ON THE ISLAND], FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE INDIAN'S WELCOME TO THE PILGRIM FATHERS by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY SONG OF THE PILGRIMS [SEPTEMBER 16, 1620] by THOMAS COGSWELL UPHAM |