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A Psalm of Life
The famous poem "A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1892
About the author
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
2,987 books740 followersAn extremely popular American poet in his own lifetime, Longfellow's best-known works include
The Song of Hiawatha
(1855), a translation of the
Divine Comedy
by Dante Alighieri, done in 1864-67, Paul Revere's Ride and Evangeline. He's one of the New England poets now typically referred to as the Fireside Poets.
Longfellow graduated from Bowdoin College in 1825, and after studying in Europe for several years subsequently became Bowdoin's professor of modern languages and librarian. After further study in Europe, he moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to become professor of modern languages at Harvard in 1836. Meanwhile, Mary Potter Longfellow, his first wife, had died in 1835, following a miscarriage.
His first published collections of poetry were Voices of the Night (1839) and Ballads and Other Poems (1841). In 1854, he retired from teaching to focus on his writing. His second wife, Frances Appleton Longfellow, died in 1861 of burns sustained when her dress caught fire. After her death, for some time Longfellow had difficulty writing original poetry, and focused on translations from foreign languages.
Longfellow wrote lyric poetry noted for its musicality, and often presented stories of mythology and legend. He frequently imitated European poetic styles (and his work was popular in Europe in his day, as well as in the U.S.). As a Romantic poet, he seeks primarily to express and to evoke emotion in his poetry.
Longfellow graduated from Bowdoin College in 1825, and after studying in Europe for several years subsequently became Bowdoin's professor of modern languages and librarian. After further study in Europe, he moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to become professor of modern languages at Harvard in 1836. Meanwhile, Mary Potter Longfellow, his first wife, had died in 1835, following a miscarriage.
His first published collections of poetry were Voices of the Night (1839) and Ballads and Other Poems (1841). In 1854, he retired from teaching to focus on his writing. His second wife, Frances Appleton Longfellow, died in 1861 of burns sustained when her dress caught fire. After her death, for some time Longfellow had difficulty writing original poetry, and focused on translations from foreign languages.
Longfellow wrote lyric poetry noted for its musicality, and often presented stories of mythology and legend. He frequently imitated European poetic styles (and his work was popular in Europe in his day, as well as in the U.S.). As a Romantic poet, he seeks primarily to express and to evoke emotion in his poetry.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 2, 2016
This poem is amazing. Period.
March 17, 2014
The poem, “A Psalm of Life,” is a very inspiring poem that shows to all that we should act in the present and never live in the past. It also teaches us that we as humans leave a mark on the sands of time for all those to see in the distant future. We leave our mark whether it is good or bad and hope for the better that none will repeat. We work for what we want no matter how long the wait. We strive for what we desire and for that, we do all that we can to achieve it.
“A Psalm of Life,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was written in 1838 when Longfellow was thirty-one years old. It was first published in the “Knickerbocker Magazine” in October. The poem makes you feel as if you’re watching time go by and seeing the past change to the future and watching as all those before you leave their mark on the world. It makes me feel as though I am standing along the coast and staring at the ocean while the waves curl in and fade away, leaving remnants of the tracks that were here before me.
The poem doesn’t really have a specific character. It mostly just tells us that there were great men before us all and that we should be in control and not like dumb, driven cattle. Longfellow is the speaker of the poem and you can tell this by seeing that he uses “we” and “I” in his poem. He uses “we” though to incorporate us into the poem as well and showing that we are a character in his poem.
This poem is well suited for all ages. It is a highly inspirational poem that could make anyone feel like they can do anything and really make a difference in this world. I rate this poem as a five out of five due to the effort and pride that Mr. Longfellow put into this. He did everything he could do in order to leave his mark. He left us his inspirational poems to make us want to do better with our lives.
“A Psalm of Life,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was written in 1838 when Longfellow was thirty-one years old. It was first published in the “Knickerbocker Magazine” in October. The poem makes you feel as if you’re watching time go by and seeing the past change to the future and watching as all those before you leave their mark on the world. It makes me feel as though I am standing along the coast and staring at the ocean while the waves curl in and fade away, leaving remnants of the tracks that were here before me.
The poem doesn’t really have a specific character. It mostly just tells us that there were great men before us all and that we should be in control and not like dumb, driven cattle. Longfellow is the speaker of the poem and you can tell this by seeing that he uses “we” and “I” in his poem. He uses “we” though to incorporate us into the poem as well and showing that we are a character in his poem.
This poem is well suited for all ages. It is a highly inspirational poem that could make anyone feel like they can do anything and really make a difference in this world. I rate this poem as a five out of five due to the effort and pride that Mr. Longfellow put into this. He did everything he could do in order to leave his mark. He left us his inspirational poems to make us want to do better with our lives.
April 5, 2014
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.......
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.......
June 12, 2018
I absolutely love this poem. My grandfather left it for me, and it'll stay with me for life.
March 3, 2022
4.5 Stars
rounded up to 5 Stars.
April 22, 2023
A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is beautifully written and inspiring. He takes about leaving the past behind, living in the now, and leaving a legacy.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
August 26, 2022
Thank you Henery for writing this wonderful poem! It motivates me big time and deserves more than five stars for sure. You may rest in peace
March 19, 2014
"A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a poem written in the third person with a theme based around leaving your mark on life. A line suggesting this theme states, "Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal."
The speaker of this poem is in the third person. The poem is written to be about we the people, or everyone.
The setting is not very well described and is not important in this poem. Despite this, the author does a great job throughout the poem using imagery.
I would recommend this poem to anyone who enjoys poetry or to anyone who is looking for inspiration. It is extremely well-written and is one of the better poems that I have ever read.
The speaker of this poem is in the third person. The poem is written to be about we the people, or everyone.
The setting is not very well described and is not important in this poem. Despite this, the author does a great job throughout the poem using imagery.
I would recommend this poem to anyone who enjoys poetry or to anyone who is looking for inspiration. It is extremely well-written and is one of the better poems that I have ever read.
October 28, 2024
Beautiful one of my favorite poems.
Read
June 30, 2021"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!—
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,—act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait."
Life is but an empty dream!—
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,—act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait."
April 16, 2023
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
April 30, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
And here we go again talking about another bad poem.
This poem felt kind of weird but it also was super boring and super uninteresting. I had hard time on getting through this poem even thou it was very short.
My attention was constantly running away from this poem because my attention wasn’t having it and it almost didn’t exist for this poem.
The writing style in this one was also pretty bad. I gotta say that the worst thing about this poem was the writing style.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
And here we go again talking about another bad poem.
This poem felt kind of weird but it also was super boring and super uninteresting. I had hard time on getting through this poem even thou it was very short.
My attention was constantly running away from this poem because my attention wasn’t having it and it almost didn’t exist for this poem.
The writing style in this one was also pretty bad. I gotta say that the worst thing about this poem was the writing style.
February 2, 2026
Just a really great poem, that really makes you look at life from a different lens. About how instead of living life in the past or worrying so much, you should make every day better than the day before and breath in the present. I think everyone should read this and really take in the words to heart and mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
I have always been enchanted by genuine similes and metaphors, and Longfellow’s work has a way of stealing one's heart in just a few lines.
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
October 17, 2017
Typical Longfellow. Sound ideas, but nothing to write home about.
April 5, 2019
Honestamente, acabo de leerlo y ya lo he olvidado. No he sufrido leyéndolo en cualquier caso.
October 13, 2019
Not one of Longfellow's best. Kinda boring, trite, and too sentimental.
January 4, 2020
4 stars
October 21, 2020
Romanticism unit with juniors. 🙌🏼
October 27, 2020
♥Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
March 15, 2022
Lovely
July 26, 2025
I listen to this all the time! I almost have it memorized just listening to it.
September 20, 2025
INCREDIBLE! Who needs anyone yelling at you for motivation when you can just memorize a line or two from this!!
June 10, 2025
Eight point two billion souls agree
The life of action is the life for me
The life of action is the life for me
January 14, 2019
One of my favorites ❤️
April 13, 2025
5+ stars (6/10 hearts). One of my very favourite poems ever… Life is not purposeless. We can’t afford to let it slip by. The whole reason of life is to live it well. To better our lives, constantly. It’s very discouraging, when we think about it, that time is so rapid and we are so slow, but we can choose to do something about it. We must do what we can, with whatever we have, where we happen to be. We can make a difference if we try. We can change people—change the world—if only we learn to be patient, and work hard, and wait.
Message aside, the phrases, pacing, words, and rhyming are exquisite. I read this version: archive.org/details/psalmoflife00long...
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Message aside, the phrases, pacing, words, and rhyming are exquisite. I read this version: archive.org/details/psalmoflife00long...
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
May 15, 2014
"A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a poem written in the third person with a theme based around leaving your mark on life. A line suggesting this theme states, "Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal."
The speaker of this poem is in the third person. The poem is written to be heard from anyone.
The setting is not very well described but it's not really necessary. But, the author does a great job throughout the poem using imagery.
I would recommend this poem to anyone who enjoys poetry or to anyone who is looking for inspiration. It is extremely well-written and is one of the better poems that I read. I rated it three out of five stars.
The speaker of this poem is in the third person. The poem is written to be heard from anyone.
The setting is not very well described but it's not really necessary. But, the author does a great job throughout the poem using imagery.
I would recommend this poem to anyone who enjoys poetry or to anyone who is looking for inspiration. It is extremely well-written and is one of the better poems that I read. I rated it three out of five stars.
June 8, 2025
'Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;"
"Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait."
Optimism is all over the place and also a very good attitude; crying, mourning or perpetual sorrow are not on this list. So it looks like Mr. Henry didn't read too much Poe, or perhaps he didn't like the Poesque way of living...
And the grave is not its goal;"
"Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait."
Optimism is all over the place and also a very good attitude; crying, mourning or perpetual sorrow are not on this list. So it looks like Mr. Henry didn't read too much Poe, or perhaps he didn't like the Poesque way of living...
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews