Poems About Life

Poems on Life's Journey

Life is a journey filled with change, growth, and learning. These poems reflect the paths we walk and the lessons we gain along the way.

Life

My life is a beautiful song,
The days pass swiftly away,
The years speed so quickly along —
It seems like the dream of a day.

My youth was a charming delight,
A springtime of which poets sin;
It dawned on me, happy and bright,
But flew like a bird on the wing.

The years of maturity came.
Fraught with the chances of life;
The labors that were not in vain
Gave stimuli, fruitful and rife.

As student, as teacher, as man.
The seasons so quickly have flown;
The cycles of time swiftly ran
And taken dear friends I have known.

And soon will I turn to the west,
West, where the sun sinks from view.
To welcome the long, peaceful rest,
After bidding all earth-friends adieu.

My life is a beautiful song,
The days pass swiftly away,
The years speed so quickly along —
It seems like the dream of a day.

The Years Go By

When we were young aging seemed like fun
We couldn't wait until the age was done
We then hit our teens and with life came
Some responsibility but still lots of games.
And so the twenty's were realized
And we found we had to get organized.

And before you knew it we hit the big three o!
A party was had, the energy was glad, oh, what a show
Before you knew it they were saying over the hill
 You hit the age of forty and had responsibility for all the bills
Fifty crept up ever so slow
But you wonder where did the years go?

With 60 approaching you look back and see
How fast the years went by, oh, you need more coffee
70 flys by in a blink of an eye
You just grin and kiss the years goodbye.
Then 80 arrives with a blast
With family around you wondering how long you will last.

While the words may seem funny,
Aging can truly be sunny
Live your life and
Let aging have its way
Enjoy your life and keep smilin'
The years will pass by that is for certain!

Life Is For Livin

Life is meant to be lived each day
Do our best in every way
Set our goals and work towards
The achievement and its rewards.

We must always appreciate
And take the time to initiate
Relationships that are key to life
To help us through daily strife.

No sense worrying about what tomorrow holds
Live today and see it unfold
Be thankful for what we've been given
Each day is a time for truly livin'!

Waiting For Life

Life as a child went too slow.
But now that I'm older,
I'm somewhat unsure,
Of why growing up quick was needed so.

Even grown, I still am prone,
To wondering when my real like will begin.....
Read more at Waiting For Life To Begin

Life Is An Adventure

Life is an adventure, a journey to embrace,
Filled with unknowns, yet wrapped in grace.
Each step we take holds promise and delight,
A treasure trove of moments, shining bright.

Embrace the twists and turns that come our way,
For each new dawn brings hope and a brighter day.
So let's greet life with open arms, as we set out to explore,
For in this grand adventure, there's always so much more.

A Balance In Life?

How do you get a balance in life?
Our time can sometimes create such strife
How much of your time is focused on
Getting to the top and being number one.

There is more to life than just making money
Look at relationships and spending time with your buddy
At the end of the day, you will see that these things
Relationships are key and happiness they bring.

And if only you seek to have fun and play
You will not find happiness each day
As time goes on with no goals in mind
Life has a tendency to leave you behind.

The time we spend can have so many demands
Balance seems hard to learn and understand
But remember, you have control of it
You decide what you'll permit.

So what does a balance in life mean to you?
Do you consider it in all you do
Take the time to work hard but, also relax
Don't get worn down and overtaxed.

Moderation in life is the key
Balance can result in feelings of happy.
So whatever you do may you find
Work hard but allow time to unwind.

Life's Voyages

Then the varied seasons come and go,
There's summer's sun and winter's snow;
To some they bring akin to unbroken joy.
To others, misfortunes that hope destroy;
Some seem rushing headlong thro' the world. . . .
Read more at Journey Of Life

It's Life

If your plans go wrong, as they sometimes will,
And the hours seem long as you climb the hill;
Remember, my friend, 'tis a part you play.
You'll find in the end a brighter day.
It's life.

If a heart grows cold that warmed to you.
And a friend you hold to be staunch and true
Has faithless turned, take heart, my friend,
'Tis a lesson learned. With a bitter end.
It's life.

You may win great fame and wealth today;
Or taste of shame and deep dismay.
You may lose or gain, may rise or fall,
Both joy and pain must come to all.
It's life.

For every smile there is a tear;
For every mile both hope and fear;
When some are gay some must be sad;
Along our way are good and bad.
It's life.

Whatever may be your share of woe,
Next day may see you come to know
A joyful heart and perfect rest;
So play your part and do your best.
It's life.

• Life Is Too Short Poems - Gentle reminders to cherish each day and focus on what truly matters.
• Living Life Poem - Encouragement to live with intention and make today count.
• Wonderful Things Poems - Verses that help us notice the good all around us.
• Experience Poems - Poems about learning and growing through life’s experiences.

Purpose and Meaning of Life Poems

These poems encourage reflection on life’s deeper purpose and how our choices shape who we become.

The Meaning of Life

Have you given thought to the meaning of life
Or do you go day to day with the strife
Do you ever step back and reflect
On the meaning of life and every aspect.

What is your purpose in life to be
These are questions you must ask and see
Questions to reflect on and consider
Are you happy or are you bitter.

Is there more to life than you realize
Do you help others and recognize
That life is not just about you
We are all in it together that is so true.

The years go by in a blink of an eye
What will people say about you when you die?
Will they remember how hard you worked
Or will they remember you as a jerk.

The meaning of life is to me
Sharing and kindness to be
A loving person who helps others
One who realizes that we are all brothers.

Live For Something

Live for something, be not idle,
Look about thee for employ,
Sit not down to useless dreaming,--
Labor is the sweetest joy.
Folded hands are ever weary,
Selfish hearts are never gay,
Life for thee hath many duties,--
Active be, then, whilst thou may.

Scatter blessings in thy pathway!
Gentle words and cheering smiles
Better are than gold and silver,
With their grief-dispelling wiles.
As the pleasant sunshine falleth
Ever on the grateful earth,
So let sympathy and kindness
Gladden well the darkened hearth.

Hearts there are oppressed and weary,--
Drop the tear of sympathy;
Whisper words of hope and comfort;
Give, and thy reward shall be
Joy unto thy soul returning,
From this perfect fountain-head;
Freely, as thou freely givest,
Shall the grateful light be shed.

What Are

What are the things you are thankful for?
Do you focus on whether you're rich or poor;
Or are you content or looking for more;
Do you focus on material things;
Do you think happiness they will bring;
Do you focus on making more money;
Does money bring you more of life's honey.

What are the things you are thankful for?
Is it "when this happens" tomorrow will be -
I will be happier just wait and see.
Do you miss the sunset and sunrise or do you see
That time passed by because you are too busy.
When family and friends call you on the phone
You're too busy you say, with a groan.

The things to be thankful for money can't buy
Money and things just can't supply
Be thankful for the simple things - just stop and see
People who love you to every degree.
The breathtaking sunset and the sunrise
Can delight your eyes and give such a surprise.
So take time and be thankful for the simple things
Today they surround you and happiness they can bring.

Motive In Life

What is your motive in life?
Every life finds its chief inspiration somewhere.
Perhaps it is to succeed?
But what do you mean by success?

Is it to gather together dollar after dollar;
To stand in a conspicuous place in the social circle;
To achieve some great result in invention,
In commercial life, in art, in letters, in politics, in the professions;
To indulge in the pleasure of the world life;
Or is it to so live, that by the unhindered utterance
Of the highest instincts and impulses of the heart,
You shall make some permanent contribution toward the uplifting of men?

The interpretation of life depends altogether upon the motive that inspires it.

My Motto Is

I am content. In trumpet tones
My song let people know;
And many a mighty man with thrones
And scepter is not so.
And if he is I joyful cry.
Why, then he's just the same as I.

My motto is — Content with this;
Gold — place — I prize not such.
That which I have my measure is:
Wise men desire not much.
Men wish and wish, and have their will.
And wish again as hungry still. . . .
Read more at Life Mottos

The Best Life

He lives the best who never doth complain,
Whether the passing days be filled with sun or rain;
Who sows his deeds of love, and, patient, lives,
Expecting not again the thing he gives;
Who buries deep the Past - its pain, its tears -
And bravely meets his Now, untrammeled by fears;

Who lets his life so shine, e'en in the night,
That wanderers distressed may see the Light;
Who patiently toils on, though feet be sore;
Whose home stands by the road with open door;
Who smiles though down he sits to feast or crust -
His faith in man sincere; in God his trust.

What Is Life To You?

To the preacher life's a sermon,
To the joker life's a jest.
To the miser life is money.
To the loafer life is rest;
To the lawyer life's a trial;
To the poet life's a song;
To the doctor life's a patient
That needs treatment right along.
To the soldier life's a battle,
To the teacher life's a school.
Life's a good thing to the grafter,
It's a failure to the fool.
 Life is but a long vacation
To the man who loves his work;
Life's a story ever new;
Life is what we try to make it -
Brother, what is life to you?

• Follow Your Own Path Poems - Poems about trusting yourself and choosing your own direction.
• Poems About The Good Life - Verses that explore what it means to live a fulfilling life.
• Life Is Good Poems - Poems that highlight optimism and a positive outlook.
• What Life Means To Me Poem - A personal reflection on the meaning of life.
• Poems About Joy - Poems that focus on happiness, hope, and inner peace.

Challenges and Struggles Poems

Life brings obstacles, but these poems remind us that strength and hope can be found even in difficult times.

Struggles Come Your Way

Just because struggles come your way
That doesn't mean it can ruin your day
The good and the bad are a way of life
Don't get down, move beyond the strife.

We must live life, taking things in stride
Helping each other, stopping any divide
Life is better when we support and love
And that is what's expected from above.

You see we were given choices to make
We are not robots, we are not fake
So if you're faced with a trial or two
Don't give up, let others help you through.

Somehow Or Other

Life is a burden to every one's shoulder
None may escape from its troubles and care;
Miss it in youth and 'twill come when we 're older,
And fit us as close as the garments we wear.
Sorrow comes into our home uninvited,
Robbing our heart of its treasures of song;
Lovers grow cold and our friendships are slighted,
Yet somehow or other we worry along.

Every-day toil is an every-day blessing,
Though poverty's cottage and crust we may share;
Weak is the back on which burdens are pressing,
But stout is the heart which is strengthened by prayer.
Somehow or other the pathway grows brighter
Just when we mourned there was none to befriend;
Hope in the heart makes the burden seem lighter,
And somehow or other we get to the end.

A Balanced Life

Every life needs some balance,
As there are always ups and downs.
Remember what they always say,
What goes up, must come down. . . .
Read more at A Balanced Life

When?

When fortune with a smiling face
Strews roses on our way,
When shall we stop to pick them up?
Today, my love, today!
But should she frown with face of care
And speak of coming sorrow,
When shall we grieve, if grieve we must?
Tomorrow, love, tomorrow!

If those who've wronged us own their fault.
And kindly pity, pray
When shall we listen and forgive?
Today, my love, today!
But if stern justice urge rebuke.
And warmth from memory borrow,
When shall we chide, if chide we must?
Tomorrow, love, tomorrow!

The Light He Leaves

Were a star quenched on high.
For ages would its light,
Still travelling downward from the sky,
Shine on our mortal sight.

So when a great man dies.
For years beyond our ken,
The light he leaves behind him lies
Upon the paths of men.

Only A Moment

Only one little moment;
All our work to be done -
Sheaves of a life-time gathered,
Victories lost or won.

No time to be standing idle;
No time to be gazing back
To the flowers we leave ungathered-
We can not retrace the track.

No time for vain repining
O'er battles we have lost;
Nor after every conquest
To sit and count the cost.

No time for idle dreaming
Of victories to be won,
Of pleasures that may greet us
When the moment's work is done.

No time for hate and malice;
No time for idle strife
We've only just a moment
In which to live a life.

Only one little moment;
All our work to be done -
Sheaves of a life-time gathered,
Victories lost or won.

• This Too Shall Pass Poems - Reassuring verses that remind us struggles are temporary.
• Poems About Trouble - Poems that reflect on facing problems with courage.
• Poems About Conflict - Verses about resolving disagreements with understanding.
• Sad Poems - Thoughtful poems that help express deep emotions.

Time and Reflections of Life

These poems inspire us to pause, reflect, and appreciate how time shapes our lives.

What Is This Life

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Life's Golden Goblet

A golden goblet each man holds,
Its contents energy,
And how we use this rare wine molds
Our endless destiny.

No life so mean but holds this power -
Oh, wondrous, priceless draught!
While hour by hour men ever pour
It forth, and prize it not.

Whatever way this vital force
Is used, results obtain;
For we may bring forth fruit perforce
Of weeds or perfect grain.

Some choose to spill this golden wine
On fleeting things of time,
Nor realize the gift's divine,
And life a charge sublime.

Then wisely pour the nectar forth;
The greatest good secure
From deeds that have the highest worth
And ever shall endure.

Seek not for deepest soul content
From earthly sources, then,
But let your choicest force be spent
In doing good to men.

A Little Loving

We usually find love with family and friends
But sometimes there is no love to that end
Get out and find those who need help
The love you get back will make your heart melt. . . .
Read more at A Little Loving

When Does Life Begin

Does life begin when you obtain more things?
Or does life begin when you make big earnings?
Does life begin when tomorrow dawns
Or does tomorrow just make you yawn?

The only life we have to live
Is today, the day we have to give
Don't wait for a certain thing
For happiness to bring.

Live each day and live it full
Don't waste it and be a fool
Begin each day and be thankful for
All that the day has in store!

The Sculptor-Boy

Chisel in hand stood a sculptor-boy,
With his marble block before him;
And his face lit up with a smile of joy
As ah angel-dream passed o'er him.
He carved that dream on the yielding stone
With many a sharp incision;
In Heaven's own light the sculptor shone -
He had caught that angel-vision.

Sculptors of life are we as we stand
With our lives uncarved before us,
Waiting the hour, when, at God's command,
Our life-dream passes o'er us.
Let us carve it, then, on the shielding stone.
With many a sharp incision;
Its heavenly beauty shall be our own -
Our lives, that angel-vision.

Life As A School

Lord, let me make this rule
To think of life as school,
And try my best
To stand each test,
And do my work,
And nothing shirk.

Should some one else outshine
This dullard head of mine,
Should I be sad?
I will be glad,
To do my best
Is Thy behest.

Some day the bell will sound,
Some day my heart will bound,
As with a shout
That school is out,
And lessons done,
I homeward run.

The Simple Things In Life

The simple things in life,
Are usually in front of your eyes.
All you have to do each day,
Is look up into the skies.

Look at the beauty around you,
Run and play outside.
Find what you've been missing,
Look what's in front, in back and beside. . . .
Read the complete poem at Simple Things

Downsizing Means

My previous life when I heard the term
downsizing meant a turn for worse
But now we are talking not about a job
We are talking about a smaller home

Letting go of space
Letting go of material things
Less room
Will this be doom?

But the benefits to me
Less housework you see
Lower heating costs
And a cozier house

So now when I hear the term
Downsizing means
Living simply with
The things that mean something to me!

• Growing Old Poems - Poems about aging with grace and wisdom.
• Poems About Health - Reflections on caring for our bodies and minds.
• Poetry About Life and Death - Poems that explore life’s seasons and transitions.
• Simplicity Poems - Verses encouraging a quieter and more meaningful life.
• Poems About Living A Simple Life - Poems that celebrate contentment and living with less.

Gratitude and Appreciation

A grateful heart brings joy, and these poems focus on thankfulness for life’s blessings.

Your Life

Each day we are given is a gift,
And a gift we always should appreciate.
When time starts to run together,
It's then that our time depreciates.

So try to slow and take each day,
Only one at a time.
Life will always have its ups and downs,
But the ups are more fun to climb.

Every morning awake to accomplish something,
Should be on your mind.
So choose your thought for the day,
And do it and then unwind.

If every day you have a goal,
And every day it gets done.
Life will never run away,
And life will be much more fun.

Happy Times

Holidays are meant to be
Happy times for all to see
The time may be a special occasion
Or it may be a two week vacation.

No matter what the holiday
Whether at home or away
Be sure to relax, fun to be had
A time for all to be glad.

Life Will Yield

We must not hope to be mowers,
And to gather the ripe, golden ears,
Unless we have first been sowers,
And watered the flowers with tears.

It is not just as we take it,
This wonderful world of ours
Life’s field will yield as we make it
A harvest of thorns or of flowers.

Little Things

Simple things are the little things
Such happiness they can bring
From watching a sunrise
To giving a child a simple surprise.

If we stop and look and see
How simple things in life can be
The best and happiest times
During our life journey climb.

• Home Sweet Home Poems - Poems celebrating comfort, love, and belonging.
• Poems About Home - Reflections on the meaning of home and family.
• Apology Poems - Poems that help express regret and healing.

This Life Is What We Make It

Let's oftener talk of noble deeds,
And rarer of the bad ones,
And sing about our happy days,
And not about the sad ones.
We are not made to fret and sigh,
And when grief sleeps to wake it:
Bright happiness is standing by -
This life is what we make it.

Let's find the sunny side of men,
Or be believers in it;
A light there is in every soul
That takes the pains to win it.
Oh! there's a slumbering good in all;
And we perchance may wake it
Our hands contain the magic wand -
This life is what we make it.

Then here's to those whose loving hearts
Shed light and joy about them!
Thanks be them for countless gems
We ne'er had known without them.
Oh! this should be a happy world
To all who may partake it:
The fault's our own if it is not -
This life is what we make it.

Values Life

A happy lot must sure be his--
The lord, not slave, of things--
Who values life by what it is
And not by what it brings.

Everybody Is Lonesome

Way down deep within their hearts
Everybody's lonesome;
Far within their secret parts
Everybody's lonesome.
Makes no difference how they smile,
How they live or what their style;
Once in every little while
Everybody's lonesome.

People first in big affairs —
Even they are lonesome.
Maybe like to put on airs;
Just the same, they're lonesome.
Men for whom existence blends
Every good; who gain all ends,
Still reach out their hands for friends;
Everybody's lonesome.

Though your gift of friendship's small
Everybody's lonesome.
It may answer someone's call;
Someone who is lonesome.
Give, and give with might and main;
Give your hands, and join the chain,
And your gift will be your gain
Some time, when you're lonesome.

Real Life

To know that there are some souls, hearts and minds,
Here and there who trust us and whom we trust:
Some who know us and whom we know:
Some on whom we can always rely and
Who always rely upon us,
Makes a paradise of this great world:
This makes our life really life.

The Neighborly Man

Some are eager to be famous, some are striving to be great,
Some are toiling to be leaders of their nation or their state,
And in every man's ambition, if we only understood,
There is much that's fine and splendid; every hope is mostly good.
So I cling unto the notion that contented I will be
If the men upon life's pathway find a needed friend in me.

I rather like to putter 'round the walks and yards of life.
To spray at night the roses that are burned and browned with strife;
To eat a frugal dinner, but always to have a chair
For the unexpected stranger that my simple meal would share.
I don't care to be a traveler, I would rather be the one
Sitting calmly by the roadside helping weary travelers on.

I'd like to be a neighbor in the good old-fashioned way,
Finding much to do for others, but not over much to say.
I like to read the papers, but I do not yearn to see
What the journal of the morning has been moved to say of me;
In the silences and shadows I would live my life and die
And depend for fond remembrance on some grateful passers-by.

I guess I wasn't fashioned for the brilliant things of earth.
Wasn't gifted much with talent or designed for special worth,
But was just sent here to putter with life's little odds and ends
And keep a simple corner where the stirring highway bends,
And if folks should chance to linger, worn and weary through the day.
To do some needed service and to cheer them on their way.

• Little Things Poems - Poems showing how small acts can mean so much.
• Poems About Colors - Light hearted poems inspired by color and emotion.
• Poems on Adventure - Poems that celebrate exploration and new experiences.
• Poems About Travel - Verses about journeys and the lessons they bring.
• Holiday Poems - Poems for special days shared with others.

Short Poems About Life

Sometimes a few words say it best. These short poems offer quick inspiration and reflection.

Embrace Today

Life is a gift, wrapped in today,
With chances to learn, to laugh, to play.
So step with hope, let worries be light,
For even in darkness, there’s always a light.

Little Moments

Life isn’t in the grand parade;
It’s in quiet smiles and lemonade,
In sunsets shared and morning’s start,
Life lives in the whispers of the heart.

The Path Ahead

Life’s road may twist, its hills may steep,
Yet every climb is a promise to keep.
With courage and dreams, step by step we go,
Wherever it leads, we’ll bloom and grow.

What We Leave Behind

Every kind word, each helping hand,
Echoes far beyond where we stand.
A life well-lived, with care and grace,
Leaves a gentle mark in time’s embrace.

Today’s Gift

Time flows like rivers, swift and true,
The days drift past like morning dew.
So pause, breathe deep, and find your way,
For life’s best treasures are here today.

Life’s Promise

Each sunrise gifted, each breath we share,
A reminder to love, to dream, to care.
Don’t wait for someday; let joy begin—
Today’s the treasure, so hold it within.

Life’s Golden Rule

In life, be kind, lend a hand,
With open heart and understanding stand.
For every smile and act we share,
Life gives it back with love and care.

Keep Moving Forward

No matter what life throws your way,
Don’t let it steal your hope today.
With strength and courage, find your stride,
There’s always a way to turn the tide.

• Famous Poems About Life - Well known poems that share timeless life lessons.
• Train Of Life Poem - A reflection on life as a journey with many stops.
• Fire and Ice Poem - A classic poem about choices and human nature.
• The Man In The Glass Poem - A poem about character and being true to yourself.