A blog I often read, Words on Wheels, recently had a post about the joys of poetry. After reading this I am reminded of a favorite poem that my cousin Renee once sent to me.
I have given this poem to friends as they turned fifty.
In a few years my friends will be turning sixty
Wonder what inspirational poem would speak to that?
Here is the piece of it that I love . . .
What then? Shall we sit idly down and say.
The night hath come; it is no longer day?
The night hath not yet come; we are not quite
Cut off from labor by the failing light;
Something remains for us to do or dare;
Even the oldest tree some fruit may bear;
. . . . . .
But other something, would we but begin;
For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
from: Morituii Salutamus
My favorite line, of this part of the poem, is the very last one.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. My sister in law just turned 50, I am going to send this to her. Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteWendy
Thanks for the poem.
ReplyDeleteThat's one to copy and save - as friends approach 60 it will be a good one!
ReplyDeleteI like that...and since I turned 61 I know it to be true. ;D
ReplyDeleteGreat poem... loved it! :)
ReplyDelete