A Life Well Lived Poem

Be encouraged by a short poem about a life well lived. We all too often brood about losing the happiness of today by thinking of those sorrows of yesterday that we experienced, or, worse, believing that troubles will invade our happiness of tomorrow.

The art of a life well lived is in the now not in the past or worrying about the future for it is within us to carve and create a wondrous day that we have in hand. We hope the words in these poems remind you of that! Live well today!

Short Poems   /   Poems Of Encouragement    /    A Life Well Lived Poem - related: Life Journey Quotes


  1. Well Lived
    Poet: Unknown

    A life well lived is a precious gift
    Of hope and strength and grace,
    From someone who has made our world
    A brighter, better place

    It’s filled with moments, sweet and sad
    With smiles and sometimes tears,
    With friendships formed and good times shared
    And laughter through the years.

    A life well lived is a legacy
    Of joy and pride and pleasure,
    A living, lasting memory
    Our grateful hearts will treasure



    2. encouraging poem


  2. Today
    Poet: Douglas Malloch

    Sure, this world is full of trouble -
    I ain't said it ain't.
    Lord! I've had enough an' double
    Reason for complaint;
    Rain an' storm have come to fret me,
    Skies are often gray;
    Thorns an' brambles have beset me
    On the road - but say,
    Ain't it fine today?

    What's the use of always weepin',
    Makin' trouble last?
    What's the use of always keepin'
    Thinkin' of the past?
    Each must have his tribulation -
    Water with his wine;
    Life, it ain't no celebration,
    Trouble? - I've had mine -
    But today is fine!

    It's today that I am livin',
    Not a month ago.
    Havin'; losin'; takin'; givin';
    As time wills it so.
    Yesterday a cloud of sorrow
    Fell across the way;
    It may rain again tomorrow,
    It may rain - but say,
    Ain't it fine today?



    3. reaching for rainbows
  3. Reaching For Rainbows
    Poet: Collin McCarty

    If we don’t ever take chances,
    we won’t reach the rainbows.
    If we don’t ever search,
    we’ll never be able to find.
    If we don’t attempt to get over
    our doubts and fears,
    we’ll never discover how wonderful
    it is to live without them.
    If we don’t go beyond difficulty,
    we won’t grow any stronger.
    If we don’t keep our dreams alive,
    we won’t have our dreams any longer.

    But. . .
    if we can take a chance now and then,
    seek and search, discover and dream,
    grow and go through each day
    with the knowledge that
    we can only take as much as we can give,
    and we can only get as much out of life
    as we allow ourselves to live. . .

    Then. . .
    we can be truly happy.
    We can realize a dream or two along the way,
    and we can make a habit of
    reaching out for rainbows
    and coloring our lives
    with wonderful days.



  4. Promise Yourself
    Poet: Christy Larson

    To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
    To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to everyone you meet.
    To make everyone you know feel that
    there is something good in them.
    To look at the sunny side of everything
    and make your optimism come true.
    To think only of the best, to work only for the best,
    and expect only the best.
    To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
    as you are about your own.
    To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to
    greater achievements of the future.
    To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and
    give every living creature you meet a smile.
    To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that
    you have no time to criticize others.
    To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
    and too happy to permit the presence of trouble in your mind.



  5. What I Live For
    Poet: Unknown

    I live for those that love me,
    For those that know me true,
    For the heaven that smiles above me,
    And waits my coming to.

    For the course that needs assistance,
    For the wrongs that need resistance,
    For the future in the distance,
    For the good that I can do.



  6. Build On Resolve
    Poet: Ella Wheeler Wilcox

    Build on resolve, and not upon regret,
    The structure of thy future. Do not grope
    Among the shadows of old sins, but let
    Thine own soul's light shine on the path of hope.

    And dissipate the darkness. Waste no tears
    Upon the blotted record of lost years.
    But turn the leaf, and smile, oh, smile to see
    The fair, white pages that remain for thee.



  7. You Will Not Be Sorry
    Poet: Unknown

    You will not be sorry:

    For hearing before judging,
    For thinking before speaking,
    For holding an angry tongue,
    For stopping the ear to a tale-bearer,
    For disbelieving most of the ill reports,
    For relieving the distressed,
    For being kind to everybody,
    For doing good to all men,
    For asking pardon for all wrongs,
    For speaking evil of no one,
    For being courteous to all



  8. Heads, Hearts, And Hands
    Poet: George W. Bungay

    Heads that think and hearts that feel,
    Hands that turn the busy wheel,
    Make our life worth living here,
    In this mundane hemisphere:
    Heads to plan what hearts shall do,
    Hearts to bear us bravely through
    Thinking head and toiling hand
    Are the masters of the land.

    When a thought becomes a thing,
    Busy hands make hammers ring
    Until honest work has wrought
    Into shape the thinker's thought;
    Which will aid to civilize,
    And make nations great and wise,
    Lifting to a lofty height
    In this age of thought and light.

    Miracles of science show
    With their light the way to go;
    Touch a tube of gas, and light
    Blossoms like the stars of night;
    Touch another tube, and lo!
    Streams of crystal waters flow;
    Touch a telegraphic wire,
    And your thought has wings of fire.

    Hail to honest hearts and hands,
    And to the head that understands;
    Hands that dare to truth subscribe,
    Hands that never touched a bribe;
    Hearts that hate a deed unjust,
    Hearts that other hearts can trust;
    Heads that plan for others' weal,
    Heads poised over hearts that feel.



  9. Our Worth
    Poet: Howard Carleton Tripp

    I hold that all of life is used
    In summing up what we are worth,
    As all the elements are fused
    To make this mighty earth.

    Not one great act, nor golden deed,
    One glowing speech that was sublime,
    Shall be the only thing we'll need
    To stand the wear of time.

    Both love and hate shall be as all.
    Both doubt and faith - all deeds on earth,
    The greatest things, as well as small,
    Shall show our royal worth.

    Yea, all we've ever left undone.
    And all we ever do shall be
    The test where Heaven's crown is won.
    And what God's eyes shall see.



  10. It Will Show In Your Face
    Poet: Unknown

    You don't have to tell how you live each day,
    You don't have to say if you work or you play;
    A tried, true barometer serves in the place,
    However you live, it will show in your face.

    The false, the deceit that you bear in your heart.
    Will not stay inside where it first got a start;
    For sinew and blood are a thin veil of lace,
    What you wear in your heart, you wear in your face.

    If your life is unselfish, if for others you live,
    For not what you get, but how much you can give;
    If you live close to God in His infinite grace.
    You don't have to tell it, it shows in your face.



  11. He Lived A Life
    Poet: H. N. Fifer

    What was his creed?
    I do not know his creed, I only know
    That here below, he walked the common road
    And lifted many a load, lightened the task,
    Brightened the day for others toiling on a weary way:
    This, his only need; I do not know his creed.

    What was his creed? I never heard him speak
    Of visions rapturous, of Alpine peak
    Of doctrine, dogma, new or old;
    But this I know, he was forever bold
    To stand alone, to face the challenge of each day.

    His creed? I care not what his creed;
    Enough that never yielded he to greed,
    But served a brother in his daily need;
    Plucked many a thorn and planted many a flower;
    Glorified the service of each hour;
    Had faith in God, himself, and fellow men
    Perchance he never thought in terms of creed,
    I only know he lived a life, in deed!



  12. The New Creed
    by Edgar Allen Moss

    I will start anew this morning' with a higher, fairer creed.
    I will quit this fool complaining of my neighbor's greed;
    I will cease to sit repining while my duty's call is clear.

    I will waste no moment whining, and my heart shall know no fear
    I will look sometimes about me for the things that merit praise,
    I will search for hidden beauties that elude the grumbler's gaze;

    I will try to find contentment in the path that I must tread,
    I will cease to have resentment when another moves ahead.
    I will not be swayed by envy when my rival's strength is shown,

    I will not deny his merit, but I'll try to prove my own;
    I will try to see the beauty spread before me rain or shine;
    I will cease to preach your duty, and be more content with mine



  13. Purpose
    Poet: Bryan Waller Procter

    Live to some purpose, make thy life
    A gift of use to thee,
    A joy, a good and golden hope,
    A heavenly argosy.
More Poems Of Encouragement for Inspiration and Motivation



Related Short Poems & Quotes You May Also Like:

just for today   Just For Today

Legacy Poems   Legacy Poems

poems about life   Poems About Life

letting go poem   Letting Go Poem

keep your head up quotes   Keep Your Head Up Quotes

poems about time   Poems About Time

how to live your best life   How to Live Your Best Life

poems about strength   Poems About Strength

motivational poems   Motivational Poems



 Share these poems with someone who is concerned, focused or worried about the past or the future. Remind them that today is the only day all of us are guaranteed, so live it well.


Short Poems    |     All Poems    |     Quotes     |     About Us    |     Contact Us    |    

privacy policy