Thought for Thursday

Not in Vain

Emily Dickinson

(Born 1830; died 1886)

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

From One Hundred and One Famous Poems
 with a Prose Supplement
An Anthology Compiled by Roy J. Cook
Revised Edition, published in 1958
by The Reilly & Lee Co. Publishers, Chicago

THOUGHT FOR THURSDAY

A Poem for me and you...

Be Strong!

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do, and loads to lift;

Shun not the struggle-face it: 'tis God's gift.

Be strong!

Say not, "The days are evil. Who's to blame?"

And fold the hands and acquiesce-oh shame!

Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name.

Be  strong! 

It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day how long;

Faint not-fight on! To-morrow comes the song.

By Maltie Davenport Babcock
(Born August 3, 1858; Died May 18, 1901)

From One Hundred and One Famous Poems
 with a Prose Supplement
An Anthology Compiled by Roy J. Cook
Revised Edition, published in 1958
by The Reilly & Lee Co. Publishers, Chicago

THOUGHT FOR THIS THURSDAY

I thought I would read you a poem today! 
Have a great one!

Keep a-Goin'*

Frank L. Stanton

If you strike a thorn or rose,

   Keep a-goin'!

If it hails or if it snows,

   Keep a-goin'!

'Taint no use to sit an' whine

When the fish ain't on your line;

Bait your hook an' keep a-tryin'--

  Keep a-goin'!

When the weather kills your crop,

   Keep a-goin'!

Though 'tis work to reach the top, 

  Keep a-goin'!

S'pose you're out o' ev'ry dime,

Gittin' broke ain't any crime;

Tell the world you're feelin' prime-

  Keep a-goin'!

When it looks like all is  up,

  Keep a-goin'!

Drain the sweetness from the cup,

  Keep a-goin'!

See the wild birds on the wing,

Hear the bells that sweetly ring,

When you feel like singin', sing-

  Keep a-goin'!

*Frank L. Stanton

(Born February 22, 1857 in Charleston, South Carolina

 died January 7, 1927 in Atlanta, Georgia)

From One Hundred and One Famous Poems
 with a Prose Supplement
An Anthology Compiled by Roy J. Cook
Revised Edition, published in 1958
by The Reilly & Lee Co. Publishers, Chicago