My Symphony by William Ellery Channing

My Symphony

To live content with small means. 

To seek elegance rather than luxury, 

    and refinement rather than fashion. 

To be worthy not respectable, 

    and wealthy not rich. 

To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, 

    act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes, 

    and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, 

    do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. 

In a word, to let the spiritual, 

    unbidden and unconscious, 

    grow up through the common.

This is to be my symphony.

Written by William Ellery Channing

To me this is a quiet, meditative poem. It stems off Invictus for me. In a busy, confusing world I am to guide myself. I love the line; "to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Channing