Wednesday, July 23, 2008

A Poem for Wednesday Night....


Desiderata.....

Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

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 in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

*Max Ehrmann 1920's Poem, shortened Version that is on my frig...
and has been for many many years....It has been on my mind this week.
Means in Latin" Things to be desired".
***************************************
Massive Attack "Unfinished Sympathy".Sometimes it is hard to move admidst the Noise and Haste.....

9 comments:

X. Dell said...

A very interesting poem, with an even more interesting history than the one previously ascribed to it. Wouldn't you know, National Lampoon's lame satire of the song made from it is almost as famous as the original recording of it.

enigma4ever said...

Thanks XDell,
I think I need to do more research on it...I did not know that it had changed- I did remember hearing it was found in a church- and then I heard that it wasn't..?

okay off to wiki land...

enigma4ever said...

XDELL::
too funny..it is the Old StPauls' Church in Baltimore.. I used to go to with my grandparents and Great Aunt when I was a kid....I had no idea that it was attached to this controversy....( it is a really beautiful old church...built in 1692...one of the oldest in the Country..)

I do know my grandmother ( quaker) , grandfather ( episocal ) had that poem on their kitchen wall...and that is why I have a card of it on my frig..but the card I have is missing some verses- which I just realized tonight......

D.K. Raed said...

Thanks for reminding me of Desiderata. I've always found it quite calming, especially:

"whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

now ... what is the controversy xdell refers to ...

enigma4ever said...

DK::
thanks it is nice...poignant...always...

the controversy refers to it's history found in a church- I would write it but it is complicated- google it with the History and they tell the whole story- I didn't know either...

that Xdell is so full of wisdom....we should send him to Jepardy...

Fran said...

Had not revisited this for a while. It IS still a beautiful world, amidst the noise & confusion, sham & drudgery.

Plenty of that going around!

It is like the author had a window into the future.

Dr. Know said...

I was sent this by a girl from Baltimore back in '80. We dated and stayed friends until the "crazed lawyers" incident and the incineration of my address book. She was a really nice young woman, unlike the collusive, criminal human trash that precipitated the loss.

As an aside, I met Carl B. Stokes niece Tuesday night. I immediately though of you. (You're the only person I "know" who lives there.)

It's a small world -- sometimes too small...

enigma4ever said...

DrKnow:::
ahhhh...sorry about the First girl you mention...that sounds rough......

ahhhh Carl B Stokes neice...how interesting...very nice family....

you thought of me..that's nice...

enigma4ever said...

Fran:::
you are so right, Max some how in 1921 knew what needed to be said...heard..