30 Inspirational Poems That Will Lift Your Spirits and Boost Your Mood
29. “In Spite of War” by Angela Morgan
In spite of war, in spite of death,
In spite of all man’s sufferings,
Something within me laughs and sings
And I must praise with all my breath.
In spite of war, in spite of hate
Lilacs are blooming at my gate,
Tulips are tripping down the path
In spite of war, in spite of wrath.
“Courage!” the morning-glory saith;
“Rejoice!” the daisy murmureth,
And just to live is so divine
When pansies lift their eyes to mine.
The clouds are romping with the sea,
And flashing waves call back to me
That naught is real but what is fair,
That everywhere and everywhere
A glory liveth through despair.
Though guns may roar and cannon boom,
Roses are born and gardens bloom;
My spirit still may light its flame
At that same torch whence poppies came.
Where morning’s altar whitely burns
Lilies may lift their silver urns
In spite of war, in spite of shame.
And in my ear a whispering breath,
“Wake from the nightmare! Look and see
That life is naught but ecstasy
In spite of war, in spite of death!”
Angela Morgan wrote this poem during World War I, which makes it both tragic and truly inspiring. Despite the horrors of war, the speaker finds beauty in nature and hope in daydreaming of life’s return to normal. In the end, war is but a nightmare, and it must end to leave room for brighter days.
30. “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman
I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.
My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,
I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.
And last but not least, here is Walt Whitman’s iconic poem “Song of Myself.” It couldn’t be more fitting to end our list of inspirational poems with what is considered by many to be Whitman’s greatest work. It inspires individuality and originality, and it sheds light on the immense value of creating your own path. Read the full poem and embark on your own journey.
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