Whatever is, is best: A collection of poems

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Book by Wilcox, Ella Wheeler

Genres: Poetry

79 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet.

Her best-known work was "Poems of Passion". Her most enduring work was the poem "Solitude", which contains the lines:

"Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone".

Her autobiography, "The Worlds and I", was published in 1918, a year before her death.

Reviews

[Sadia Mansoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know as my life grows older,
And mine eyes have clearer sight,
That under each rank of wrong, somewhere
There lies the root of right;
That each sorrow has its purpose,
By the sorrowing oft unguessed,
But as sure as the sun brings morning,
Whatever is – is best.

I know that each sinful action,
As sure as the night brings shade,
Is somewhere, sometime punished,
Though the hour be long delayed.
I know that the soul is sided
Sometimes by the heart’s unrest,
And to grow means often to suffer –
But whatever is – is best.

I know there are no errors
In the great Eternal plan,
And all things work together
For the final good of man.
And I know as my soul speeds onward,
In its grand Eternal quest,
I shall say as I look back earthward,
Whatever is – is best.

I wish we become this optimistic like the poetess & say "Whatever is - is best" in every situation no matter how bad it is!

[B. Surchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was truly a great poetess much ahead of her time. Reading into her life has also filled me with much admiration to her.

This collection of her poems is a must read for poetry lovers. it's short and sweet, and gives you a general rundown on this poetess, and the many themes she explores in her poetry.

Her poetry shows her boldness, her major emphasis on "Love" and what it's supposed to mean, her disregard to criticism because of her belief that her poetry is made to inspire and not to be graded, and her pure optimism.

Ella Wheeler Wilcoxs poetry fills me with motivation, optimism and hope. Although her deeper, longer poems can reflect many very realistic and sad realities that she had dared to express.

I don't agree with some of her more esoteric beliefs and statements especially to the nature of God, fate and suffering, expressed in her poem "My Belief", but I can appreciate that her beliefs are beneficial and optimistic. I also don't really think her poetry shows feminism atleast in the new-age sense, readers often brand "feminist" on any good and capable female writer and frankly I feel like it takes from the writers ability. I could be wrong, though.

I think Ella Wheeler Wilcox is my new favourite English poet.

"I must live my life, not yours, my friend, For so it was written down;
We must follow our given paths to the end, But I trust we shall meet —in town."

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each time I read this book, I treasure it more.

January 15, 2020 So enjoy a number of her poems!

March 24, 2o19: It is true that each time you read a poem (or book), there is more to glean. That is how I felt as I read this book again. I have quite a number of favorite poems from this book.


February 20, 2018: A few days ago I read a quote by Ella Wheeler Wilcox in one of her poems. As I was looking for the quote, I was reminded of a number of her poems that I had liked very much. Therefore, I decided to buy this book with a collection of her poems. What a treat!!! Not only did I meet some old friends, but also met some new ones with her words.

[Chaunceton Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dose of inspiration.

[Aggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of this woman until I found this little book on the shelves of a little caribou coffee 47 miles from my home. As a reader, I felt inclined to see if I could finish it in between the business of that day. I did, though the words within were not the greatest.

I loved the mini biography in the front, and nearly all of the poems. Her love poems however, were not written very clear or well. This surprised me, as these are supposedly what she has to thank for her fame. Overall, I would never read this again, though I did find some new poems to act as favorites.

[Bethel Swift · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whatever is, Is Best by Ella Wheeler Wilcox is full of affirmations (that border on toxic positivity at points) but I was intrigued by the fact that she was a poet who was actually recognized during her lifetime (in the 1800s) and many authors complain that this style of poetry being popular is a new phenomena!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

i miss the blue mountain arts books of the 70s, the design was perfect for the time. wonderful to find found this volume in a library bookshop

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreck. Pretty mediocre. No wonder she is cited in the anthology of bad poetry, “Very Bad Poetry.”