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5 Legacy Poems
Have you ever thought about what type of legacy you are creating as you live each day? A legacy is much more than the possessions we leave behind. It is found in the kindness we show, the encouragement we give, the values we demonstrate, and the difference we make in the lives of others. These legacy poems remind us that our actions today can have a lasting impact tomorrow. Whether through love, faith, service, or example, each of us is building a legacy one day at a time. For more inspiring verses about living a meaningful life, visit our collection of Poems About Life.
Updated June 16, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Bequest
Poet: Emily Dickinson
You left me, sweet, two legacies, -
A legacy of love
A Heavenly Father would content,
Had He the offer of;
You left me boundaries of pain
Capacious as the sea,
Between eternity and time,
Your consciousness and me.
My Legacy
Poet: Lucy Maud Montgomery
My friend has gone away from me
From shadow into perfect light,
But leaving a sweet legacy.
My heart shall hold it long in fee
A grand ideal, calm and bright,
A song of hope for ministry,
A faith of unstained purity,
A thought of beauty for delight
These did my friend bequeath to me;
And, more than even these can be,
The worthy pattern of a white,
Unmarred life lived most graciously.
Dear comrade, loyal thanks to thee
Who now hath fared beyond my sight,
My friend has gone away from me,
But leaving a sweet legacy.
Living Legacy
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
How you act, what you do today
Is a living legacy on display
Kind acts, kind words you speak
Give us a peek.
How you make others feel
Is a legacy revealed.
It is not material things,
Short term money brings.
But helping others will always be
A true living legacy.
If we look at your life today
What type of legacy do you display?
A lasting legacy is often measured not by what we own, but by the lives we touch and the memories we create. Find more inspiration in these thoughtful Legacy Quotes.
Legacy
Poet: Douglas Malloch
Each man must leave to earth a legacy;
Embarking on the waves of mystery
Must leave some footprint by the unknown sea...
Read the full poem, Legacy
My Legacy
Poet: Helen Hunt
They told me I was heir:
I turned in haste,
And ran to seek my treasure.
And wondered, as I ran, how it was placed,
If I should find a measure
Of gold, or if the titles of fair lands
And houses would be laid within my hands.
I journeyed many roads; I knocked at gates;
I spoke to each wayfarer
I met, and said, "A heritage awaits
Me. Art not thou the bearer
Of news? some message sent to me whereby
I learn which way my new possessions lie?"
Some asked me in; naught lay beyond their door;
Some smiled, and would not tarry,
But said that men were just behind who bore
More gold than I could carry;
And so the morn the noon, the day, were spent,
While empty-handed up and down I went.
At last one cried, whose face I could not see,
As through the mists he hasted:
"Poor child, what evil ones have hindered thee
Till this whole day is wasted?
Hath no man told thee that thou art joint heir
With one named Christ, who waits the goods to share?"
The one named Christ I sought for many days,
In many places vainly;
I heard men name his name in many ways;
I saw his temples plainly;
But they who named him most gave me no sign
To find him by, or prove the heirship mine.
And when at last I stood before his face,
I knew him by no token
Save subtle air of joy which filled the place;
Our greeting was not spoken;
In solemn silence I received my share.
Kneeling before my brother and "joint heir."
My share! No deed of house or spreading lands,
As I had dreamed; no measure
Heaped up with gold; my elder brother's hands
Had never held such treasure.
Foxes have holes, and birds in nests are fed:
My brother had not where to lay his head.
My share! The right like him to know all pain
Which hearts are made for knowing;
The right to find in loss the surest gain;
To reap my joy from sowing
In bitter tears; the right with him to keep
A watch by day and night with all who weep.
My share! To-day men call it grief and death;
I see the joy and life to-morrow;
I thank my Father with my every breath,
For this sweet legacy of sorrow;
And through my tears I call to each "joint heir"
With Christ, "Make haste to ask him for thy share."
A Reflection On Legacy
When people think of legacy, they often think of what is left behind. But a true legacy is also found in the lives we touch each day. The encouragement we give, the kindness we show, and the example we set can have a greater impact than any material possession. These poems remind us that every day is an opportunity to create a legacy that reflects our values and helps leave the world a little better than we found it.
Popular Pages
These popular poems and quotes explore the lessons, purpose, and positive influence that help create a meaningful legacy.
A meaningful legacy begins with living each day with purpose, as reflected in these A Life Well Lived Poems.
Discover timeless wisdom in these Famous Poems About Life that continue to inspire generations.
Find encouragement for every stage of life with these inspiring Life Journey Quotes.
Enjoy a beloved classic with the Where The Sidewalk Ends Poem, a poem that continues to capture hearts.
Gain practical wisdom and inspiration from these memorable Quotes To Live By.
Challenge yourself to grow and make a positive difference with Be The Best You Can Be.
Conclusion
May these poems help you reflect on the type of legacy you are leaving. What you say, what you do, and how you treat others will determine the legacy of your life. May each day be filled with kindness, purpose, and love that continues to encourage others long after the moment has passed.
More Poems About Life to Inspire and Motivate