Featured Poem
InvictusBy William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud. . . .
Read the entire poem, Invictus Poem
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Perseverance and Resilience
Be encouraged by learning how to keep going even when things get tough.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
When life gets tough and skies turn gray,
Keep moving forward, don’t lose your way.
With every step, you’re growing strong,
Be encouraged as you go along.
Though challenges rise and doubts appear,
Remember, brighter days are near.
So face the storm, don’t be dismayed,
Don't let your enthusiasm ever fade!
Poet: David V. Bush
I will, I can, I will!
Says he who means to win.
For there's no power this side of death
Can shut and keep him in.
I will, I can, I will!
Is the slogan that never fails.
And there's no power on land or sea
To keep down that man's sails.
I will, I can, I will!
Has turned the world around
And saved a people many times
When others thought them, down.
I will, I can, I will!
Obstacles I'll defy!
For there's no power can beat a man
Who never will say, "die."
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
When obstacles block your way, don't give in,
The path may be tough, but you're destined to win.
Try again and again, in a different direction,
For persistence and hope are the keys to perfection.
When one door closes, another will appear,
Don't lose heart, or give in to fear.
With faith and courage, with each new day,
Keep moving forward, in your own unique way.
Poet: Kate Summers, ©2020
When failures come - keep going
When you feel like giving up - keep going
When people mock your idea - keep going
When challenges you face - keep going
When mistakes are made, learn - but keep going
Because perseverance just keeps going!
Poet: Byron Pulsifer, ©2020
Underneath our feet we find
Those branches and thorns a grind.
Why is so life so mean
It is as if no other scene.
Through life, you know, you will find
We sometimes just close our minds.
Those solutions we so desperately want
All appear like yesterdays many tyrants.
But, do not trouble or be dismayed
There are good times on the way.
When you look beyond the norm
You'll find you need not conform.
Be bold, be happy, be confident
You are not meant to lament.
These things so sure today
Can vanish without delay.
So when trouble comes your way
Do not accept defeat and ruin your day
Move forward with a focused view
Stay positive in all you do.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, ©2019
When you are feeling down
And all you can muster up is a frown
That is the time to stop
And count your blessings until you drop.
Focus on all of life's good
And you will find things work out as they should
Feeling sorry and just sitting around
It is a sure thing to bring you down.
Take some action, make a move
It doesn't matter if others approve
Nothing lasts forever
You will move past this if you endeavor!
Related poems that will encourage you to persevere and be reslient:
- Don't Quit Poem
- Poems About Mistakes
- Try Try Again Poem
- Poems About Resilience
- Poems About Perseverance
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Overcoming Challenges and Fear
Find ways to face your fears and overcome obstacles.
Poet: Susan Coolidge
As we meet and touch, each day,
The many travellers on our way,
Let every such brief contact be
A glorious, helpful ministry;
The contact of the soil and seed,
Each giving to the other's need,
Each helping on the other's best,
And blessing, each, as well as blest.
Analysis of The Poem, As We Meet:
"As We Meet" by Susan Coolidge is about the interactions we have with others as we journey through life. The poem suggests that each encounter should be seen as an opportunity to help and support one another. It compares these interactions to the relationship between soil and seed, where both give to each other and help each other grow. Overall, the poem emphasizes the importance of kindness and mutual support in our daily interactions with others.
By John Hay
Don't waste your time in longing
For bright, impossible things;
Don't sit supinely yearning
For the swiftness of wings;
Don't spurn to be a rushlight
Because you are not a star.
But brighten some bit of darkness
By shining just where you are.
There is need of the tiniest candle
As well as the garish sun;
The humblest deed is ennobled
When it is worthily done;
You may never be called to brighten
The darkest regions afar;
So, fill for the day your mission
By shining just where you are.
The poem, Shine Just Where You Are, advises against wasting time longing for unattainable things or feeling inadequate compared to others. Instead, the Poet encourages us to embrace our current circumstances and make a positive impact right where we are. The poem reminds us to be satisfied and content with each day rather than aspiring to grand things - in other words be happy today.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Sometimes when we are frustrated, we forget
The challenges we've overcome, the battles met
So remember how much we've grown
For every setback, a lesson was shown.
Keep moving forward, don't dwell on defeat
With each small step, our success will repeat
Encouraging ourselves with all that we've achieved
Reminding us of the strength we can perceive.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Embrace the winds of change with open eyes,
Opportunity awaits as old ways bid goodbyes.
Be not afraid, for change is nature's song,
Adapt and grow, find where you belong.
With optimism's gaze, see the shifting tide,
For in every change, new paths will reside.
Let go of resistance, and welcome the new,
For life's beauty lies in its ever-changing view.
Related poems that encourage overcoming your challenges and fears:
- Poems About Fear
- Poems About Challenges
- The Oak Tree Poem
- Letting Go Poem
- Never Give Up Poem
- Courage Poems
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Hope and Resilience
Discover the power of hope and how it can help you stay resilient.
By Lucien M. Lewis
There were twin brothers, we are told,
Whose mother at their hour of birth
To satisfy some curious whim,
Gave them the oddest names on earth. . . .
Read the complete poem, The Two Brothers
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Within yourself, power resides,
To transform from within, where true change abides.
Not by external forces, but by your guided inner will,
Those encouraging whispers, urging you still.
In the depths of your soul, lies a spark,
Ready to ignite, even in the dark.
Through every challenge, you'll find a way,
To grow and evolve, day by day.
Though obstacles may loom, and doubts may arise,
Reassurance in knowing, your doubt surely dies.
For within you lies a strength untold,
A mighty spirit, a quest so bold.
So trust in yourself, and the journey you're on,
Never give in so you're not someone's pawn.
Believe in the process, and the path you pursue,
Encouragement guides, as you renew.
With each moment of courage, each leap you take,
You'll find yourself transforming, no mistake.
So face the journey, with a heart open wide,
For within you, transformation will provide.
Poet: Unknown
Good times they are comin'.
Don't stand in their way;
Get onto the curbstone.
An' give 'em full sway.
Don't block up the traffic.
Don't hinder their pace;
Good times they are comin',
Make way for the race!
Good times they are comin',
Push, push on behind;
Don't scowl at the pageant,
Be cheerful an' kind.
Encourage the drummin'
With smiles on your face;
Good times they are coming
Make way for the race!
by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom. . . .
Read the entire poem, Still I Rise Poem
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Rest assured all will be alright,
Don't let defeat be your plight.
Though now your courage feels meek,
Remember the victories you seek.
Let past successes strengthen your heart,
You must not lose hope when things come apart.
Move forward with determination and drive,
You'll find success as you strive.
Poet: George Stephenson
Make the best of every thing
Think the best of everybody;
Hope the best for yourself:
Do as I have done, — persevere.
Poet: Lillian E Curtis
There's many a sunbeam behind a cloud,
And smooth waves after rough tide,
When the weather is bleak and the winds are loud,
We'll look on the brightest side.
The ups and downs of this life are many,
But the joys obscured from sight,
By trials and troubles unknown to any,
Are continually brought to light.
Related poems to give you hope:
- Poems About Hope
- Optimistic Poems
- Poems About Defeat
- Keep Going Poems
- Opportunity Poems
- Patience Poem
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Self-Improvement and Growth
Tips and strategies for personal development and growth.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
In the mirror, what do you see?
Not just outward appearance, but the beauty in thee.
For inner beauty shines, a radiant light,
Encouraging whispers, pure and bright.
It's not in the eyes of those passing by,
But in your heart's depths, where true beauty lies.
Reassurance comes from within your soul,
In the value you hold, making you whole.
So don't seek approval from others' gaze,
For inner beauty's grace, it never betrays.
Accept yourself fully, just as you are,
For that's where true beauty is like a guiding star.
In a world where looks may steal the show,
Remember, inner beauty's glow.
You're more than just a pretty face,
Your worth gives more to secure your place.
Poet: Edison Jackson
If any little words of ours
Can make one life the brighter;
If any little song of ours
Can make one heart the lighter,
God help us speak the little word,
And take our bit of saying
And drop it in some lonely vale,
To set the echoes ringing.
If any little thought of ours
Can make one life the stronger.
If any little cheery smile of ours
Can make its brightness longer,
Then let us speak that thought tonight
With tender voices glowing,
May God give you love and strength
To reap from your glad sowing.
Source:
Rappahannock Record, 25 May 1961 This poem was written by Edison Jackson, from the Class of 61 at Central High School.
Poet: Robert Rivers, ©2020
Have you ever seen a clown
Who is sad and has a frown?
That makeup done shows no cracks
But within so suffers from attacks.
We are so often showing false
Guarded by the hardest walls.
Our thoughts we keep to ourself
We put them up on a shelf.
How we feel we don't show
We pretend to go with the flow.
So often, it is true that we hide
How we really feel inside.
For it is true I do assure
That what we really are unsure.
Be instead that which is true
Be who you are has its' virtue.
There is no reason to abide
No reason for feelings to hide
For we would rather know
The real person for you to show.
Poet: Byron Pulsifer, ©2020
There are so many who love to scorn
They are the ones who blow one's horn.
To cast aspersions upon the others
They never see that they are hunters.
They love to hunt out what looks so less
So they can be better to confess.
That they deserve the praises massed
To call all others to celebrate how they've surpassed.
But, do not despair because these so glorious called
Are nothing more than themselves enthralled.
You, instead, are at the top
Not ever needing to namedrop.
You need not dare compare
To those who really have no flare.
Just do your best, give it all you've got
You will make more headway and be on top.
It doesn't matter what others say
You just do your best and don't be swayed
You are the one you answer to
And to yourself always be true.
Related poems for self improvement and growth:
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Time Management and Procrastination
Learn how to manage your time effectively and beat procrastination.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Time slips through our fingers with silent grace,
Each day a precious moment we must embrace.
Don't linger, don't delay, for time won't heed your call,
Enjoy each passing moment before it's gone, that's all.
So seize the day with joy and no delay,
For tomorrow may not bring another chance to play.
Embrace the now, for in an instant it's passed,
Don't procrastinate, for time moves fast.
by Everett Wentworth Hill
One task at a time without worry or fear;
One day at a time though the morrow draws near;
One deed well accomplished suffices the day -
Start not many missions, take time out to play.
You can't borrow sunlight from night open door;
One task and one day is enough to explore.
Make every hour count in the moments you spend;
Tomorrow's a stranger, today is a friend.
Poet: Nixon Waterman
Of course, if you mean to catch a train,
The better way is to start in time.
Still, if you're late.
Don't rail at fate.
And sob and sigh and wail and wait
For another day,
But sprint away . . . .
Read the complete poem, Never Too Late To Mend
by Benjamin Franklin
Little strokes fell great oaks.
One to-day is worth two to-morrows.
There are no gains without pains.
Whate'er's begun in anger ends in shame.
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night.
What we call time enough always proves little enough.
Laziness travels so slowly that Poverty soon overtakes him.
He that is good at making excuses is seldom good for anything else.
Constant dropping will wear out a stone.
Early to bed and early to rise,
make a man healthy, and wealthy, and wise.
Related poems for time management:
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Dealing with Emotions
Understand your emotions and find healthy ways to cope with them.
Poet: Byron Pulsifer
In truth we find the clearest path to peace,
With honesty, our hearts and minds release,
No regret shall linger in the wake of trust,
For genuine words and actions are a must.
Be honest with yourself, embrace your light,
And with others, let truth guide you right,
For a life lived in honesty is pure and bright.
Poet: Robert Rivers, ©2020
I know what you may face today
All those issues that come your way.
Within the dark of the night
Gives no one any delight.
If you think you are alone
Simply call a friend on the phone.
It is never beyond a true friend's scope
To be there to help you cope.
No matter who you are
Those troubles are not too far.
But, never be one to give up so quick
We can always intervene that is the trick.
Life issues will come and go
Sometimes fast and sometimes slow
Sometimes good and sometimes bad
Giving us happy and giving us sad.
Don't hold it in, don't be uptight
Stand your ground, give it a fight
Issues can cause so much stress
But always remember that life can also bless.
So talk it out with a friend
You will feel better in the end.
Issues we always face
But talking it out makes this world a better place.
by Jane Merchant
If for one day
I can forget
The nagging care,
The needless fret;
For one day, keep
My spirit clear
From anxious doubt
And useless fear;
If for one day
I can believe
In life, and joyously
Receive
The blessings that
Are always mind
Of earth and air
And love divine -
Oh, then at last,
At last, I may
Learn how to do it
Every day.
Poet: Adele E. Ingersoll
If we noticed little pleasures
As we notice little pains;
If we quite forget our losses
And remember all our gains;
If we looked for people's virtues,
And their faults refused to see;
What a comfortable, happy,
Cheerful place this world would be!
Poet: S. K. Phillips
The course of the weariest river
Ends in the great, gray sea;
The acorn forever and ever
Strives upward to the tree;
The rainbow, the sky adorning,
Shines promise through the storm;
The glimmer of coming morning
Through midnight gloom will form.
By time all knots are riven,
Complex although they be,
And peace will at last be given,
Dear, both to you and me.
Then, though the path be dreary,
Look forward to the goal;
Though the heart and the head be weary,
Let faith inspire the soul;
Seek the right, though the wrong be tempting;
Speak the truth at any cost;
Vain is all weak exempting
When once that gem is lost;
Let strong hand and keen eye be ready
For plain or ambushed foes;
Thought earnest and fancy steady
Bear best unto the close.
The heavy clouds may be raining,
But with evening comes the light;
Through the dark, low winds complaining,
Yet the sunrise gilds the height;
And Love has his hidden treasure
For the patient and the pure;
And Time gives his fullest measure
To the workers who endure;
And the word that no lore has shaken
Has the future pledge supplied;
For we know that when we "awaken "
We shall be "satisfied."
Related poems dealing with life and emotions:
- Disappointment Poems
- Poems About Criticism
- Poems About Anger
- Smile Poems
- Poems About Laughter
- Poems About Stress
- Poems About Regret
- Poems About Worry
- Poems About Guilt
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Truth and Honesty
Explore the importance of truth and honesty in your life.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
In every step we take, our character is revealed,
Not through empty words, but in the things we yield.
Actions echo loudly, speaking volumes clear,
Showing who we are and what we truly hold dear.
Promises kept, and deeds aligned with our word,
Prove that integrity and honor are always preferred.
So let our actions speak for us, loud and true,
What you say make sure you do.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
In life's journey, clear and bright,
Truth and honesty are our guiding light.
With every word, with every deed,
They plant the trust that we all need.
Like a compass in the darkest night,
They steer us always to what's right.
In friendships, work, and love we share,
Truth and honesty show we care.
So hold them close, both firm and true,
For they'll always see you through.
In every choice and every test,
With truth and honesty, you'll be your best.
Related poems dealing with truth and honesty:
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Life Lessons and Wisdom
Wisdom and lessons learned from life's experiences.
Poet: Unknown
When you're criticising others,
And are finding, here and there,
A fault or two to speak of
Or a weakness you can tear:
When you're blaming some one's weakness,
Or accusing some of pelf -
It's time that you went out
To take a walk around yourself.
There's lots of human failures
In the average of us all,
And lots of grave short comings
In the short ones and the tail;
But when we think of evils
Men should lay upon the shelves,
It's time we all went out
To take a walk around ourselves.
We need so often in this life
This balancing of scales,
This seeing how much in us wins
And how much in us fails;
But before you judge another -
Just to lay him on the shelf -
It would be a splendid plan
To take a walk around yourself.
May the poem, Take A Walk Around Yourself, remind you not to judge others, and may it be a reminder that we all have strengths and weaknesses. It is easy to judgment on in others, but take a look at yourself before you do and you may find you are just as bad if not worse!
Poet: Unknown
If times are hard, and you feel blue.
Think of others, worrying, too.
Just because your trials are many
Don't think the rest of us haven't any.
Life's made up of smiles and tears,
Joys and sorrows, mixed with fears;
And though to you it may seem one-sided,
Trouble is pretty well divided.
If we could look in every heart,
We'd find that each one has its part.
And those who travel Fortune's road
Sometimes carry the biggest load.
Poet: Unknown
There is many a rose in the road of life
If we would only stop to take it;
And many a tone from the better land
If the querulous heart would make it;
To the sunny soul that is full of hope
And whose beautiful trust ne'er faileth,
The grass is green and the flowers are bright
Though the winter storm prevaileth.
Better to hope, though the clouds hand low,
And to keep the eyes still lifted;
For the sweet blue sky will still peep through
When the ominous clouds are rifted!
There was never a night without a day,
Or an evening without a morning;
And the darkest hour, as the proverb goes,
Is the hour before the dawning.
There is many a gem in the path of life,
Which we pass in our idle pleasure,
That is richer far than the jewelled crown,
Or the miser's hoarded treasure;
It may be the love of a little child,
Or a mother's prayers to heaven,
Or only a beggar's grateful thanks
For a cup of water given.
Better to weave in the web of life
A bright and golden filling,
And to do God's will with a ready heart,
And hands that are swift and willing.
Than to snap the slender, delicate threads
Of our curious life asunder,
And then blame Heaven for the tangled ends,
And sit and grieve and wonder.
Poet: Philip James Bailey
We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs when they beat;
For God, for man, for duty. He most lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best;
And he whose heart beats quickest, lives the longest -
Lives in an hour more than in years do some
Whose fat blood sleeps as it slips along their veins.
Life is but a means to an end; that end,
Beginning, mean, and end to all things - God.
Related poems dealing with life lessons and wisdom:
- Attitude Poems
- Poems About Effort
- Success Poem
- Poems About Failure
- Poems About Strength
- Adversity Poems
- A Life Well Lived Poem
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Motivational Messages
Inspiring messages to keep you motivated every day.
Poet Unknown
Don't hunt for trouble, but look for success;
You'll find what you look for--don't look for distress.
If you see but your shadow, remember, I pray,
That the sun is still shining, but you're in the way.
Don't grumble, don't bluster, don't sigh and don't shirk;
Don't think of your worries, but think of your work.
The worries will vanish, the work will be done,
No man sees his shadow - who faces the sun.
Poet: Will D. Muse
We do not care what the world may say
If those whom we love are true;
We do not mind the toil of the day
If we know in the dusk and the dew
There waits some one who will welcome us
As we come home to rest
Some friends who will say, "Dear heart, I know
That to-day you have done your best."
We do not mind if the thorns are sharp,
Or the pathway is rough and steep;
We do not mind if we plow and sow
For others to come and reap.
If we can but hear, when the twilight comes
And the red in the West grows gray,
Some dear voice whisper these words of cheer:
"You have fought a good fight to-day."
For the heart don't care what the world may say
If those whom it loves are true,
For 'twas ever and always the heart's own way
To long for the love and rue.
You forget the gain, the loss, and the pain
That tortures your pulsing breast,
If there's one who always in sweet, blind faith
Can say: "You have done your best."
Poet: Byron Pulsifer, ©2020
There are so, so many who have money
But, they aren't even happy or funny.
They scowl and often complain
That they don't have enough to maintain.
What is so sad to say
These people always cry and bay.
No matter how much
They're always in a financial crush.
So what is the truth?
To know may seem uncouth.
But this is not the problem
So let's get to the bottom.
Without a heart, I'd say
Is one of the issues in array.
To give, for them, to others now
Is more for them then they allow.
Without a heart, a heart of love
They would never hereof
The Golden Rule that is so true.
To give to others is a blessed avenue.
It is not possessing the money that is at fault
It is the worshiping of money that causes the assault.
We only need that is enough for this day
There is no need to be any other way.
Poet: Berton Braley
May these be yours
The Gifts that make the Dreamers into Doers,
The Gift to work
Through Joy and Sorrow, Light or Murk,
To play, with all your soul and heart,
A manly part!
The Gift of Discontent, to keep you driving
Forward and up, forever striving
For something better in the days hereafter;
The Gift of Kindness and the Gift of Laughter,
And all the gifts of Love and Faith and Friends,
Of Justice and of Truth,
And in your heart, until life's journey ends,
The Priceless Gift of Youth,
Hope that inspires and Courage that endures,
May all these Gifts be Yours!
Related poems to motivate:
- Poems About Goals
- Actions Speak Louder Than Words Poems
- Poems About Listening
- Poems About Hands
- Poems About Luck
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Famous and Classic Poems
Enjoy some of the most famous and classic poems ever written.
Poet: Douglas Malloch
The tree that never had to fight
for sun and sky and air and light
but stood out in the open plain
and always got it share of rain,
never became a forest king
but lived and died a scrubby thing.
Good timber does not grow with ease.
The stronger wind, the stronger trees.
Douglas Malloch's poem "Being Strong" employs the metaphor of a tree to illustrate that encountering challenges is crucial for development and fortitude. Trees that grow without adversity remain weak and unremarkable, whereas those that face harsh conditions become robust and resilient. Similarly, individuals grow stronger and more capable by overcoming life's difficulties.
Poet: Louise Driscoll
Hold fast your dreams!
Within your heart
Keep one still, secret spot
Where dreams may go,
And, sheltered so,
May thrive and grow
Where doubt and fear are not.
O keep a place apart,
Within your heart,
For little dreams to go!
Analysis of The Poem, Hold Fast Your Dreams:
In a world often filled with cynicism and doubt, Driscoll's words serve as a gentle reminder to hold onto our dreams. By creating a space within ourselves dedicated solely to our aspirations, we are essentially safeguarding their potential. This act of belief can indeed be the catalyst for transforming our dreams into tangible realities.
Despite the unpredictable winds of life that may hit us, maintaining an unwavering faith in our dreams allows us to navigate through challenges with resilience and purpose. Through Driscoll's poem, we are reminded that while external circumstances may fluctuate, the inner sanctuary where our dreams reside remains untouchable by negativity or fear. Truly embracing the concepts of this poem empowers us to cultivate a sense of unwavering determination toward fulfilling our aspirations.
Poet: William Allen Butler
As on through life's journey we go day by day,
There are two whom we meet, at each turn of the way,
To help or to hinder, to bless or to ban,
And the names of these two are: "I Can't" and "I Can".....
Read the complete poem, I Can't and I Can
Poet: Edgar A. Guest
A pat on the back is a wonderful thing.
It gives a man courage to whistle and sing;
When hope is departing, the outlook is grim,
A pat on the back then says volumes to him.
It whispers: "Keep at it! You're doing all right,
Just dig in your toes and get busy and fight,
There's one man behind you, go to it, old man.
One pal who is sure that you can, that you can."
A pat on the back from a stranger or friend
When your jaw starts to sag and your knees start to bend
Will bring you right up with new courage and grit
And you'll keep in the fight when you were going to quit,
You'll feel it, you'll hear it - yes, actually hear it -
For hours saying "dig in, old fellow. Don't fear it.
That isn't as hard as it looks. Be a man.
There's a fellow back there who believes that you can."
Just a pat on the back. And for days and for days,
No matter how far you may roam, it still stays
By your side, and no matter how hard be your fight
It's whispering always: ''You'll come out all right.
There's a fellow back there who's believing in you.
Expecting each minute to see you come through
With your colors still flying and leading your clan!"
And the first thing you know you are saying: ''I can."
Oh, a pat on the back is a wonderful thing.
The touch of it's magic; I've known it to bring
Back hopes that were fleeting, and strength that seemed gone
And smiles that had vanished and urge a man on
When it seemed that he couldn't one step advance more
Till he conquered. And that's what I'm singing this for;
If you see a poor brother whose nerve's out of whack.
Just step up and give him a pat on the back.
Related poems:
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Additional Poems To Consider
Be further encouraged and inspired by these collections of poems.
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