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As Life Grows Shorter, Love Grows Stronger
As the years pass, we often begin to see more clearly what truly matters. The things that once seemed so important may lose their hold on us, while the people we love, the friendships we treasure, and the moments we share become even more precious.
In As Life Grows Shorter, Love Grows Stronger, Ella Wheeler Wilcox reflects on this change in perspective. She acknowledges that growing older can bring loss, sorrow, and an awareness that our time together is limited. Yet rather than leaving us with sadness, her words remind us that love can become stronger and our appreciation for those who walk beside us can grow deeper.
I especially like the final thought in this poem. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, so Wilcox encourages us to clasp hands, speak gently, and value one another today. It is a simple reminder not to wait to show our love or tell someone how much they mean to us.
May this poem encourage you to treasure the people in your life, appreciate the time you have together, and let love grow stronger with each passing year.
Updated September 25, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
As Life Grows Shorter, Love Grows Stronger
Poet: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The days grow shorter, the nights grow longer,
The headstones thicken along the way;
And life grows sadder but love grows stronger
For those who walk with us, day by day.
The tear comes quicker, the laugh comes slower,
The courage is lesser to do and dare;
And the tide of joy in the heart runs lower,
And seldom covers the reefs of care.
But all true things in the world seem truer,
And the better things of the earth seem best;
And friends are dearer as friends are fewer,
And love is all as our sun dips west.
Then let us clasp hands as we walk together,
And let us speak softly, in love's sweet tone;
For no man knows, on the morrow, whether
We two pass by, or but one alone.
Key Reflections In This Poem
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Love Can Grow Stronger With Time
As the years pass, we may become more aware of how precious our relationships are. Wilcox reminds us that love can deepen as we share both the joys and challenges of life together.
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Friendships Become More Precious
The poem observes that friends can become dearer as their number grows fewer. Those who continue to walk beside us through the years are people worth appreciating and never taking for granted.
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Growing Older Changes Our Perspective
Time can help us recognize which things in life truly matter. Love, friendship, kindness, and truth often become more important than the things that once demanded so much of our attention.
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Show Your Love Today
We cannot know what tomorrow will bring or how much time we will have together. A kind word, a gentle touch, or simply saying how much someone means to us should not always be saved for another day.
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Treasure Those Who Walk Beside You
Life's journey is made richer by the people who share it with us. The poem encourages us to appreciate their presence while we have the opportunity to walk together.
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Conclusion
Ella Wheeler Wilcox reminds us that although life changes as the years pass, love does not have to grow weaker. In fact, knowing that our time together is precious can make our relationships even more meaningful.
The people who have walked beside us through happy days and difficult ones become an important part of our lives. Their friendship, love, and presence are gifts that deserve to be appreciated while we have them.
So let us take the message of this poem to heart. Speak kindly, hold close the people you love, and do not wait until tomorrow to show your appreciation. As life grows shorter, may our love for one another continue to grow stronger.
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