William Ellery Channing
William Ellery Channing
(1818-1901 / the United States)
Poems by William Ellery Channing : 7 / 14
My Symphony - Poem by William Ellery Channing
To live content with small means.
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion.
To be worthy not respectable,
and wealthy not rich.
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently,
act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes,
and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully,
do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.
Poems by William Ellery Channing : 7 / 14
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Poem Submitted: Monday, September 6, 2010
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