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OneGrassRoot

(22,920 posts)
7. Turns out that's the first line of a poem...
Wed Feb 6, 2013, 08:11 PM
Feb 2013

I'd heard it as well, so I looked it up. Thanks.

"Solitude," by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 - 1919)

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth
Must borrow its mirth,
It has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air;
The echoes bound
To a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go;
They want full measure
Of all your pleasure,
But they do not want your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all;
There are none to decline
Your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by;
Succeed and give,
And it helps you live,
But it cannot help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a long and lordly train;
But one by one
We must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.

Need some inspiration and hope? [View all] OneGrassRoot Feb 2013 OP
Great idea! silverweb Feb 2013 #1
Thanks, silverweb! OneGrassRoot Feb 2013 #6
An old saying momma use to say that she probably heard from whoever but it is true. southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #2
Turns out that's the first line of a poem... OneGrassRoot Feb 2013 #7
Wow how nice to read the whole thing. I didn't know where it came from. Proves southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #10
Just "Liked" your page! karmaqueen Feb 2013 #3
Gracias! OneGrassRoot Feb 2013 #8
Thanks for sharing that, and might I add LeftofObama Feb 2013 #4
Thanks, LeftofObama! OneGrassRoot Feb 2013 #9
Oh, I love the chicken story ! nt agracie Feb 2013 #5
Me, too. :) n/t OneGrassRoot Feb 2013 #11
kick for morning crowd in need of a bit of inspiration. n/t OneGrassRoot Feb 2013 #12
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Need some inspiration and...»Reply #7