Tina Lewis Rowe

The Psalm Of Life And Your March

My father, Ernest Lewis, often would recite his favorite portion of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, The Psalm of Life.  I heard it many times as a youngster, a teenager and a young adult. Sadly, I didn’t fully understood its significance to him or to anyone who has seen both life and death and who is aware that there is much less time ahead than the time behind. I wish I had talked to him about it–one of those many regrets I have (and with which you may be familiar). One thing is certain: Now I understand.

I’ve especially thought about Dad’s favorite lines since the tragic events last week in Aurora, Colorado, where I live. 

FROM THE PSALM OF LIFE

…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.

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.

There are many things about life and death that we can’t choose. However, we can choose whether our march is purposeful and cheerful or indecisive and sluggish–and whether we are still achieving and pursuing right up to the end of our journey in this earthly life or still dragging our feet and complaining. What tempo is the beat of your muffled drum?

July 24th, 2012 Posted by TLR | Keeping On!, Life and Work | 3 comments