A Psalm of LifeA Psalm of Life

By Henry Wadsworth LongfellowBy Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A Psalm of LifeA Psalm of Life

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, his wife Frances and their two sons, circa 1849. http://www.anes.uab.edu/aneshist/longfellow.jpg

"A Psalm of Life" was first published in the Knickerbocker Magazine in October 1838 when Longfellow was 37 years old. It also appeared in Longfellow's first published collection Voices in the Night.

UrgencyUrgency

The main message of the poem is that we need to The main message of the poem is that we need to act with some urgency.act with some urgency.

This urgency is communicated through a This urgency is communicated through a trochaic rhythm, which gives the poem a trochaic rhythm, which gives the poem a driving, forceful tone. The music of the lines driving, forceful tone. The music of the lines reinforces the rushed mood: reinforces the rushed mood:

LifeLife΄́ is real is real΄́! Life! Life΄́ is earn is earn΄́est!est!AndAnd΄́ the grave the grave΄́ is not is not΄́ its goal its goal΄́;;

The soul does not dieThe soul does not die

The urgency might seem a little strange, since in The urgency might seem a little strange, since in the Christian cosmos Longfellow inhabits, we the Christian cosmos Longfellow inhabits, we have an eternity:have an eternity:

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul. Was not spoken of the soul.

So isn’t it strange to hurry?So isn’t it strange to hurry?

And it gets even stranger…And it gets even stranger…

The message seems to be:The message seems to be:Hurry up, you’re going to die!Hurry up, you’re going to die!

We must act so that we can get “farther We must act so that we can get “farther than to-day” and yetthan to-day” and yet

our hearts, though stout and our hearts, though stout and brave,brave,Still, like muffled drums, are beatingStill, like muffled drums, are beatingFuneral marches to the grave. Funeral marches to the grave.

Now is the only time we haveNow is the only time we have

““Time is fleeting” we are told. We have neither Time is fleeting” we are told. We have neither the past or the future. We have only the the past or the future. We have only the present:present:

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !

Let the dead Past bury its dead ! Let the dead Past bury its dead !

But why?But why?

If the soul lives forever, and if this world does If the soul lives forever, and if this world does not last, why strive? not last, why strive?

Why work?Why work?

Why not eat, drink and be merry?Why not eat, drink and be merry?

Longfellow makes emotional appealsLongfellow makes emotional appeals

He uses contrasting images, suggesting that He uses contrasting images, suggesting that people who don’t act aren’t really free.people who don’t act aren’t really free.

They are “like dumb, driven cattle” They are “like dumb, driven cattle”

while someone who does act lives the larger and while someone who does act lives the larger and freer life of “a hero in the strife.” freer life of “a hero in the strife.”

Great people actedGreat people acted

He appeals to the image of “great men” who He appeals to the image of “great men” who made their lives “sublime*.”made their lives “sublime*.”

But he gives no examples of what they actually But he gives no examples of what they actually accomplished with all their striving.accomplished with all their striving.

* “Characterized by nobility; majestic. . . Inspiring awe; * “Characterized by nobility; majestic. . . Inspiring awe; impressive.”impressive.”

Except footprints in sandExcept footprints in sand

Even that image is ambiguous. They left their Even that image is ambiguous. They left their mark upon the world, but it’s the most mark upon the world, but it’s the most transient of marks. transient of marks.

What is more fleeting than a footprint in the What is more fleeting than a footprint in the sand?sand?

Wait! There’s more!Wait! There’s more!

Someone else might see that footprint, Someone else might see that footprint,

And it might help him take heart:And it might help him take heart:

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again. Seeing, shall take heart again.

Is this persuasive?Is this persuasive?

Struggle and strive, because you’re going to die, Struggle and strive, because you’re going to die, but in your struggle you may leave fleeting but in your struggle you may leave fleeting footprints that others who are struggling footprints that others who are struggling toward death might see, and this will give toward death might see, and this will give them the courage to continue struggling.them the courage to continue struggling.

Until they die tooUntil they die too

In some ways, the poem makes no sense.In some ways, the poem makes no sense.

And yetAnd yet

It has satisfied millions of readers and been It has satisfied millions of readers and been memorized by generations of school children.memorized by generations of school children.

Though Longfellow doesn’t describe any of the Though Longfellow doesn’t describe any of the important things that are done in this world, important things that are done in this world, we know that some things are important.we know that some things are important.

Striving in the face of deathStriving in the face of death

Heroic people have made advances against the Heroic people have made advances against the real enemies of humanity:real enemies of humanity:

DiseaseDisease

PovertyPoverty

IgnoranceIgnorance

FearFear

The poem resonatesThe poem resonates

For readers who share Longfellow’s Christian For readers who share Longfellow’s Christian sensibility that this word, though transient, is sensibility that this word, though transient, is important.important.

Here we can “fight the good fight.” We can not Here we can “fight the good fight.” We can not only accomplish much good, we can also only accomplish much good, we can also provide an inspirational model for those who provide an inspirational model for those who come later.come later.

Labor and WaitLabor and Wait

While we work, we are also waiting.While we work, we are also waiting.

Waiting for what?Waiting for what?

Real lifeReal life

The soul does not die. Life is real. The soul does not die. Life is real.

Things are not as they seem.Things are not as they seem.