Be A Hero In The Strife

 “Man is always more than he can know of himself; consequently, his accomplishments, time and again, will come as a surprise to him.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Well known poet of the nineteenth century, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow did much to influence the art of poetry in his time, and wrote many noteworthy poems still read and appreciated today. Henry seemed to know a lot about struggle in his time. He was born in 1807 in Portland, Maine. After graduating from college he lived in Europe for three years studying several foreign languages. He then went home to teach, married Mary Storer Potter, and published his first book. On a return trip to Europe, Mary died having a miscarriage after 4 years of marriage. Several years later Henry proposed to Frances Appleton in the United States, who turned him down. Apparently he persisted though, and Frances later agreed. 18 years and several more published books later, Frances’ dress caught fire while trying to seal an envelope. Henry tried to save her but she died the next day. Henry didn't work for two years after that. He went it alone for the next two decades, wildly successful as the most popular American poet of his day. He made it to 75 years old and died in March of 1882. He wrote many poems dealing with adversity, one such poem of his is “A Psalm of Life.” this poem in particular holds a great deal of valuable advice on the day to day struggle of living life  Its message is most clearly understood when the poem is analyzed one stanza at a time.

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.

                Everywhere we look, we find the overwhelming evidence as to how dire and hopeless the world is. Economic problems, wars, murders; it is all too easy to get wrapped up in the pessimistic view of the world. In the first stanza however, we are urged to ignore that dark and sad reality; we are warned that should we become bogged down by that sad view, we become hollow and feel there is no purpose to life. In the closing line we are reassured about this ugly world; its not always as bad as it looks.

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.

                Life is a tremendous gift. Every day is an opportunity, and we should actively be looking for those opportunities to better ourselves and others. In that same idea, man is not alive to merely exist until he dies. He is to thrive, dream and create. Who we are at our most basic form, our soul, is capable of so much more than just day in and day out.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each tomorrow

Find us farther than today.

Life is to be more than existing, yes, but keep in mind life will have both good times and bad; we must be able to accept and learn from each extreme; for without sadness, loss, grief, and difficulties, we cannot appreciate happiness, luck, success, and joy. Through these ups and downs, our ultimate goal is to be constantly improving ourselves with each new experience.

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.

                Henry interjects a piece of reality back into the poem here. We are all capable of so much here in life, but no one can escape the steady inevitability of death. Despite this, we are advised to not let this truth stop us. Why worry about what we can’t change or control?

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!

                When the hardships are upon us, we must fight to overcome them with all we have. Following the crowd in these times, believing someone else will step forward to fix the problem, will not help anyone. The word ‘bivouac’ is defined as a military encampment made with tents or improvised shelters, usually without shelter or protection from enemy fire, and in the context of the stanza, it lends a very vivid mental image to complement its meaning.

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!

                In this life, jumping to conclusions or becoming complacent because the immediate road ahead seems easy can prove fatal. Also, those mistakes we've had in the past should not hinder us more than absolutely necessary. When the issue is resolved, forget about it and keep moving. A piece of the poems common theme appears again in this stanza; do what we can, when we can, with what we have, and do it as well as we can. The last line teaches us to always hold important aspects of our lives close to us, things like talents and relationships, while also holding faith that what we are doing with our lives is right; or taken more literally, hold faith in God to help and guide each of us.

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.

                Heroes, role models, good examples; these leaders turn up everywhere in life, and their great achievements show others how to live a good life themselves; not only that, but their exemplary lives often live on and are emulated long after they die. whether its acknowledged or not, many of us are watched constantly by those who look up to us, and soon it will be our turn to leave our “footprints on the sands of time.”

Let us then be up and doing,

With a heart of any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

The last stanza is the last challenge Henry gives his readers. Now that he has taught us, he wants us to use this knowledge. Be optimistic, be persistent, be patient, and everything will work out for you in the end. Though not even close to the same severity as Henry, I have walked in some of the same places as him, and I know something of how hard life is. But its worth it. Its always worth it.