OH, to be glad as a bird! Never to be put out! Not to be ruffled by look or word, But both to meet like the bluest day That charms the world in May! Oh, to live on and on! Travel the world about, As cloud sails or as sails a swan, When skies are blue and waters bright Bearing serene delight! Bearing a smile like the sun, Break on to-day and to-morrow, Soothing the eyes of sorrow, And giving a cause for none! This is to be a queen or a king, Not of countries but hearts; This is to conquer everything At home, not foreign parts. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BELLS OF LYNN; HEARD AT NAHANT by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT by JOHN GODFREY SAXE TO WORDSWORTH by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE TRUANTS by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM PSALM 7; UPON WORDS OF CHUSH THE BENJAMITE; AUGUST 14, 1653 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE DEAD LETTERS (T.L.H.) by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |