Song of Aragorn by JRR Tolkien

Song of Aragorn 
by JRR Tolkien


All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.




From the Merchant of Venice the Prince of Morocco
by William Shakespeare


All that glisters is not gold;Often have you heard that told:Many a man his life hath soldBut my outside to behold:Gilded tombs do worms enfold.Had you been as wise as bold,Young in limbs, in judgement oldYour answer had not been inscroll'dFare you well, your suit is cold.


Written centuries apart but share a common idea. A link is here to learn more. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien

The Answer by Robinson Jeffers

The Answer 

by Robinson Jeffers

Then what is the answer?—Not to be deluded by dreams.

To know the great civilizations have broken down into violence, and their tyrants come, many times before.

When open violence appears, to avoid it with honor or choose the least ugly faction; these evils are essential.

To keep one’s own integrity, be merciful and uncorrupted and not wish for evil; and not be duped

By dreams of universal justice or happiness. These dreams will not be fulfilled.

To know this, and know that however ugly the parts appear the whole remains beautiful. A severed hand

Is an ugly thing, and man dissevered from the earth and stars and his history...for contemplation or in fact...

Often appears atrociously ugly. Integrity is wholeness, the greatest beauty is

Organic wholeness, the wholeness of life and things, the divine beauty of the universe. Love that, not man

Apart from that, or else you will share man’s pitiful confusions, or drown in despair when his days darken.

Timeless words that need to be passed on and remembered. A link to learn more is here. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/robinson-jeffers

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

One of the best poems ever. Quiet and thoughtful. A link to read more is here. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/robert-frost

Give Me Strength by Rabindranath Tagore

Give Me Strength 
by Rabindranath Tagore




This is my prayer to thee, my lord—-strike,
strike at the root of penury in my heart.

Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.

Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.

Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might.

Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.

And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love.




Spiritual poetry is special and meaningful. A link to learn more is here. http://allpoetry.com/Rabindranath_Tagore

i carry your heart with me by e e cummings

i carry your heart with me 
by e e cummings


i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
                                  i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)


There is a beautiful simplicity to this poem. One that never has grown old. A link to read more is here. http://allpoetry.com/e_e_cummings, I wanted to add another link that talks about this poets spirituality. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._E._Cummings

The Wine of Love by James Thomson

The Wine of Love

BY JAMES THOMSON

The wine of Love is music,

   And the feast of Love is song:

And when Love sits down to the banquet,

   Love sits long:

Sits long and ariseth drunken,

   But not with the feast and the wine;

He reeleth with his own heart,

   That great rich Vine.

This is great, love entwines. A link to learn more is here. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/james-thomson

Let the Light Enter by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Let the Light Enter

BY FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER

    The Dying Words of Goethe

“Light! more light! the shadows deepen,

        And my life is ebbing low,

Throw the windows widely open:

        Light! more light! before I go.

“Softly let the balmy sunshine

        Play around my dying bed,

E’er the dimly lighted valley

        I with lonely feet must tread.

“Light! more light! for Death is weaving

        Shadows ‘round my waning sight,

And I fain would gaze upon him

        Through a stream of earthly light.”

Not for greater gifts of genius;

        Not for thoughts more grandly bright,

All the dying poet whispers

        Is a prayer for light, more light.

Heeds he not the gathered laurels,

        Fading slowly from his sight;

All the poet’s aspirations

        Centre in that prayer for light.

Gracious Saviour, when life’s day-dreams

        Melt and vanish from the sight,

May our dim and longing vision

        Then be blessed with light, more light.

Reminds me of the light of inspiration.  Wonderful old poem. A link to read more is here. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/frances-ellen-watkins-harper