These motivating Daniel C. Colesworthy poems are ones that add a positive thought to your day! Who can tell how many thousands of faltering hearts and trembling, pendent hands have been strung to new
hope and effort by his cheering words and verses.
Daniel C. Colesworthy is a native of Portland, where he resided
for nearly forty years. He was born on the fourteenth day of July 1810, and at the age of fourteen, entered the office of the Chris-
tian Mirror, as an apprentice to the printing business. Like many
other young men of talent, ambition, and perseverance, he educated
himself and graduated from the printing office with distinguished honor
to the craft. In addition to writing poetry, he was involved
in the book business for years.
His poems have passed the test of time and continue to inspire people today.
I'll teach thee a lesson:
Be active and wise;
The deeper the valley,
The brighter the skies;
The harder the labor,
More weary the breast,
The sweeter the slumber
When the pillow is pressed.
When the fierce storm approaches,
Unbend to the blast;
Unyielding, look upward,
Till the whirlwind has passed:
The firm and unshaken,
Who never despair,
The seal of true greatness
Forever shall wear.
Why should you be dull and sad?
Nothing can be half so bad,
We'll engage.
All is cheerful, if you look
Rightly into Nature's book,
On each page.
Sighing, weeping, trembling who,
When you make such loud ado,
Will come near?
Peace and joy you drive away,
All that tend to make life gay,
And you cheer.
It is folly, don't you know,
Thus to sink in pools of woe,
And to weep
Now's the time to live and act;
Not the rust of grief contract,
While you sleep.
From the shadows and the mire.
Up! and let the living fire
Of ambition
Glory on your actions cast;
And, for all the guilty past,
Show contrition.
Stand up, brother! here's the hand
That will help thee rise and stand;
Here's the heart that warmly burns
When a prodigal returns.
Stand up, brother!
For a friend thy spirit yearns.
Stand up, brother! stand upright!
Let the scales fall, see the light;
And no longer in the dust
Let thy mind be clogged with rust.
Stand up, brother!
And the galling fetters burst.
Stand up, brother! fear no ill;
We will love, protect thee still:
When the night of darkness lowers:
In the tempest's strongest hours.
Stand up, brother!
These are warm, kind hearts of ours.
Stand up, brother! yes, thou wilt,
Though so long oppressed by guilt:
On thy brow we gladly read,
"You have been my friends indeed"
Stand up, brother!
We are just the friends you need.
Old time has taken another step,
And brought the New Year round:
We see it in the leafless trees,
And on the silver ground.
The streams that sparkled in the sun,
And joyous leaped along,
Now bear upon their glassy breast
A buoyant, happy throng.
So be it ours to live, that when
Our course is finished here,
We may to brighter worlds ascend,
Where Virtue's sons appear;
And, in the presence of our God,
Enjoy the bliss supreme,
Studying the wonders of his love
The holy angels' theme.
It is a little thing to give
A cup of water to the poor,
Or spare a morsel to relieve
The famished stranger at the door;
And yet these trifling favors may
Return to bless ere life shall close,
And cheer through earth's dark, devious way,
If multiplied should be our woes.
The glory of the mighty God,
Where'er I gaze, my eyes behold;
When Evening spreads her veil abroad,
Or morning clouds are tinged with gold.
The ocean, as it heaves and swells
Around the isles that dot the sea,
In tones as loud as thunder, tells
His awful power and majesty.
The stars that gem the glorious skies,
The solemn sentinels of light,
Speak of that God which bade them rise
To beautify the heavens by night.
The flower that smiles within the vale,
Where careless feet may never tread,
Repeats the same unvarnished tale,
And lowly bows its modest head.
The tiny songsters of the air,
Which joyous float on golden wing,
The same almighty Power declare,
And chant his praises when they sing.
The fields in verdant grandeur drest,
In all their splendor and their bloom,
In silent language praise him best,
And send to heaven their rich perfume.
But where is man? Has he no soul
To speak his Maker's glories forth,
When land and sea, and orbs that roll,
Tell of the Power that gave them birth?
Sin steels his heart, and blinds his eyes,
And makes him careless of his God,
When all that move beneath the skies
Conspire to sound his praise abroad.
Awake, man! thy dormant powers,
And let thy soul His glory sing:
Should Nature's voices rival ours
And shame the praises that we bring?
What if I'm thrown upon my back?
Must I lie still and die?
Or, cringing, ask the help of those
Who heedless pass me by?
No! I will struggle, faint or sick,
Upon my feet to rise:
He is a fool who hugs the sod,
And, without effort, dies.
The active mind was never made
In sluggish fear to rest,
When dark misfortune brings us down,
And sorrow wrings the breast:
Up! nerved with strength, go forth again
To battle in the strife:
They only live who dare and do
In every phase of life.
Who are discouraged, never win
Bright Honor's golden prize;
Or reap the blessings spread before
The diligent and wise.
The fair, bright sky, the broad, green earth
Have no delights for them;
While all who pass look down with pride,
Or scornfully condemn.
So I will persevere, if I
A single limb can move;
Climb up, press on, should foes or friends
Discourage or approve.
I know beyond the rolling clouds
There is a sky serene;
And all its glories I shall view
With not a veil between.
Eternal thanks to God, who gave
A heart that will not cower,
In foul Oppression's darkest night,
Beneath the foot of Power;
A heart, that when beset around
With base, malignant foes,
Is brighter and more active found,
The stronger they oppose.
Ay, stout and iron heart, go on!
And never shalt thou fail:
With zeal and energy and truth
Thou surely must prevail.
Ere long thy foes shall be subdued,
Or in thy path be slain:
Here then I take a fresher start,
Never to yield again.
Shouldst Thou bestow the power to raise
But one petition to the skies,
I would not ask for length of days,
For wealth or honor - earthly praise;
But this my fervent prayer should be -
An humble heart to sacrifice,
In faith and love, God! to thee.