What is Psalm of Life ?

“a Psalm of life”

Life is  real! Life is earnest!

and the grave is not its goal;

dust thou art, to dust returnest

was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

its our destined end or way;

but to act, that each tomorrow

finds us farther than today.

Art is long, and time is fleeting,

and our hearts, though stout and brave,

still, like muffled drums are beating

funeral marches to the grave.

Trust no future, howe’ver pleasant!

let the dead past bury its dead!

act-act in the living present!

heart within, and God o’erhed.

Lets us, then be up and doing,

with a hearth for any fate

still achieving, still pursuing

lear to labor and to wait.