Popular Poem Categories:
Occasion & Holiday Poems:
Do Not Grumble
We all have days when things do not go as planned. Problems arise, disappointments come, and sometimes it can be difficult to see anything good in the situation. In Do Not Grumble, David V. Bush reminds us that while we cannot always control what happens in life, we can choose how we respond.
Grumbling may come easily when life feels unfair, but it rarely changes the problem before us. A more positive attitude can help us look beyond the difficulty and remember the blessings that still remain. That does not mean every problem has an easy answer. Some circumstances take time, patience, and courage to work through.
This poem encourages us to keep going rather than allowing disappointment to take away our hope. Life will never be free of troubles, but there is often something for which we can still be thankful. May these verses remind you to look for the good, appreciate what you have, and face each day with a hopeful heart.
Updated September 18, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Do Not Grumble
Poet: David V. Bush
Misfortune's bruised your brow again;
The clouds have poured their floods of rain;
The lightning from an angry sky
Has hit you hard as you passed by!
Your cup of sorrow's at the brim;
You're facing life with spirit grim;
O'er all resounds Misfortune's mumble,
Be glad for life and do not grumble!
The one you loved has found relief,
So that you sit alone in grief;
No friend can bring a ray of cheer,
You pine because "She is not here."
Your thirty years of joy and bloom
Lie still and pallid in the tomb;
Mourn not your lot, for all things crumble-
Be glad for love, and do not grumble!
The rains of spring have washed away
The grain you planted yesterday.
So that your ground must languish drear
And bare until another year!
Do not complain, for left to you
Are fertile fields and heavens blue;
What if your plans are all a-jumble?
Be glad for land, and do not grumble!
Suppose you've lost a hand or eye;
'Twill do no good to sit and cry,
For other souls have had like pains,
And through them all have found their gains.
Misfortunes come to train the mind,
To bear and struggle and be kind;
So though you oft may trip and tumble,
Be glad for feet, and do not grumble!
Suppose that wealth has taken flight
And each day aggravates your plight;
These trials hurt, we must admit.
But where is he who's ne'er been hit?
Life is not made of gems and gold.
You'll gain again if brave and bold.
If wealth has left you poor and humble.
Be glad 'twas yours, and do not grumble!
No man on earth has gone through life
Without some bruises in the strife;
Each in his day has made mistakes.
And in confusion nursed his aches.
No time on bygone errors spend —
The game is on; play to the end.
The baseball ace who ne'er could fumble
Is yet unborn — so do not grumble!
Key Reflections From Do Not Grumble
David V. Bush reminds us that difficulties are part of life, but they do not have to determine our attitude. These reflections encourage us to appreciate what remains, keep moving forward, and choose hope rather than grumbling.
- Choose gratitude over grumbling. When life disappoints us, it is easy to focus on what has gone wrong. Looking instead at what we still have can help us face the day with a more thankful heart.
- Hard times are part of life. Everyone faces problems, losses, and unexpected changes. We may not be able to avoid them, but we can choose how we respond to them.
- Do not let one setback stop you. Plans may fail and circumstances may change, but that does not mean we should give up. There is always another day and another opportunity to move forward.
- Appreciate the blessings that remain. Even when something has been lost, there may still be much in our lives for which we can be thankful. Sometimes we simply need to stop and notice it.
- Learn from yesterday and keep going. Mistakes and disappointments are behind us. Rather than spending our days grumbling about what cannot be changed, we can learn from the experience and look ahead with hope.
Popular Pages
These poems offer more encouragement about attitude, gratitude, and finding a positive way forward through life's challenges.
Start the day with a positive thought and a smile with Start Your Day With A Smile.
Consider how our attitude can shape the way we handle dissatisfaction in Two Kinds of Discontent.
Be reminded that small blessings can bring great joy when you read Little Things.
Conclusion
Do Not Grumble reminds us that life will not always go the way we planned. There will be disappointments, setbacks, and times when we wonder why things happen as they do. Yet David V. Bush reminds us that even during difficult times, there are still blessings in our lives for which we can be thankful.
We cannot always change what happens, but we can choose how we respond. Grumbling will not solve the problem, but a positive attitude can help us move forward with hope. May this poem remind you to appreciate what you have, learn from the difficult times, and face each new day with a thankful heart.
More David V. Bush Poems to Inspire