Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

            A PSALM OF LIFE

      WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN
                    SAID TO THE PSALMIST

    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 ; 
    Dust thou art, to dust returnest, 
        Was not spoken of the soul.

    Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, 
        Is our destined end or way ; 
    But to act, that each to-morrow 
        Find us farther than to-day.

    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 bivouac of Life, 
    Be not like dumb, driven cattle ! 
        Be a hero in the strife !

    Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant ! 
        Let the dead Past bury its dead ! 
    Act,— act in the living Present ! 
        Heart within, and God o'erhead !

    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 o'er life's solemn main, 
    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 to wait.

Whenever there be skies of gray,

The day… be dark and dreary—

Your heart is laden down with grief,

Your heart, so tired and weary…

Look up my friend, to heav’n above,

There is a “silver lining” —

The one you love—is there above,

Their heart with yours entwining.

The time grows short, that you will spend,

A part from one another—

For Jesus, has such special plans,

For you to be together.

Trust in the Word, with Him abide,

His coming’s very near—

You soon will be with Jesus,

And, the one that you hold dear!

Sally J Dodds

As I’ve traveled down life’s road,

I’ve seen a lot of things—

Mem’ries written on the land,

Which, quite so often brings…

Thoughts which lead back to the past,

Back to a yesterday—

Where men of courage blazed a trail,

And, carried their destiny…

Into a place of history,

That all of us could see—

Where God, had led them so that they,

Could our examples be.

Today, I passed a land mark,

Carved into history—

Where early settlers rested from,

Their trials… their misery…

And, as I looked toward the field,

Toward a rivers end—

I watched that river flowing by,

To go beyond the bend…

I, stood and watched it disappear,

It seemed to know “no care” -

So many thoughts raced through my mind,

I whispered, standing there…

“Farewell river… roll on by,

One day your job will end—

For now though let us say goodbye,

Right here at Farewell Bend.”

It disappeared beyond the bend,

On to the ocean went—

For all the while to do the work,

For which it had been sent…

By god, who knows our every need,

Who’s always standing by—

Just beyond the river’s bend,

On mountains touching sky.

He’s everywhere, while here we trod,

To walk down here below—

Then, at the end… around the bend,

He’s there to help you go…

On safely to the other side,

You’ll reach the other shore—

Led into eternal day,

Where troubles never more…

Will cause our eyes to fill with tears,

Or cause our hearts to care—

For sinful ways of man are gone,

There’s only “Jesus” there.

Today, He waits beyond the bend,

It’s there He’ll take your hand—

He’ll be your guide—cross Jordon’s tide—

Into the promised land!

Sally J Dodds

As down the road of life we walked,

Together… hand in hand—

We faced some trials, and trying times,

And, found the life we’d planned…

Was altered, some by God’s design,

For, He alone could see—

Each road that lay beyond the bend,

That beckoned you and me!

Life led us down through many roads,

The “road of life” gave way—

To detours and some road blocks,

And… rocky roads that lay…

‘Ere before us, but we found,

We never were alone,

For God, who saw beyond each bend,

Had made His presence known.

He walked with us and let me know,

Where ever He would send—

That I would go together with…

My husband… My best friend!

Sally J Dodds

1992