A Psalm of Life (Analysis)
Stanza 1
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Analysis:
The poet criticizes people who say life is meaningless or a mere illusion ("empty dream").
He believes such negative thinking comes from a “sleeping soul” — someone not truly alive or aware.
He insists that reality is deeper and more serious than it appears.
Tone: Strong, rejecting negativity.
Message: Life has purpose; don’t waste it with hopeless or passive thinking.
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Stanza 2
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.
Analysis:
Life is real and serious, not a joke or illusion.
The goal of life is not death.
The line “Dust thou art...” refers to the body, but the soul is immortal.
Tone: Philosophical, hopeful.
Message: Life matters; death is not the end of the soul.
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Stanza 3
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Analysis:
We are not born just for pleasure or pain.
Our real purpose is to take action and progress every day.
Each new day should see us grow or improve in some way.
Tone: Motivational.
Message: Be active and always work toward betterment.
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Stanza 4
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.
Analysis:
Human achievements ("art") take time, but life is short ("time is fleeting").
Even the bravest people are slowly moving toward death.
Our hearts beat like silent funeral drums — time is ticking.
Tone: Reflective, somber.
Message: Time is precious; use it wisely before it’s too late.
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Stanza 5
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Analysis:
Life is compared to a battlefield; we are like soldiers camping in it ("bivouac").
Don’t live blindly, like animals following others.
Be brave, take control, and fight your own battles.
Tone: Commanding, brave.
Message: Live consciously, courageously, and with purpose.
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Stanza 6
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Analysis:
Don’t rely on the future, even if it seems bright.
Don’t cling to the past — it’s already gone.
Focus on the present moment — that’s where life happens.
Live with passion ("heart within") and faith in God ("God o’erhead").
Tone: Wise, spiritual.
Message: Be present, work now, trust your heart and God.
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Stanza 7
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Analysis:
The great people of history inspire us.
We can also live noble, meaningful lives.
By doing great deeds, we can leave a legacy ("footprints") for others to follow.
Tone: Inspiring.
Message: Live in a way that your actions are remembered and admired.
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Stanza 8
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Analysis:
Someone lost or struggling in life ("shipwrecked brother") may see the footprints (your example) and feel hope.
Our good actions can guide and encourage others.
Life is like a vast ocean; we all need help sometimes.
Tone: Compassionate, empathetic.
Message: Our lives can inspire and support others in difficulty.
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Stanza 9
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Analysis:
Let’s be active and ready to face any challe
nge in life.
nd a positive legacy.
Keep working hard, keep chasing goals.
At the same time, be patient — success takes time.
Tone: Encouraging, resolute.
Message: Be energetic, courageous, persistent, and patient.
Summary of "A Psalm of Life"
"A Psalm of Life" is an inspiring and motivational poem that urges people to live life with purpose, action, and courage. The poet rejects the idea that life is meaningless or just a preparation for death. Instead, he believes life is real, serious, and valuable.
He emphasizes that we are not meant to simply enjoy or suffer, but to act, improve ourselves, and leave a legacy. Life is short, and time moves fast, so we must not waste it by being passive or lazy. We should live like heroes, not like cattle being driven blindly.
The poet encourages us to focus on the present, not dwell on the past or worry too much about the future. With faith in God and courage in our hearts, we should keep working hard and moving forward.
He reminds us that the lives of great people show us we too can do noble deeds and inspire others. Even when we’re gone, our good actions can leave behind “footprints on the sands of time” to guide and give hope to others.
The poem ends with a call to action: be active, brave, hardworking, and patient in all situations.
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✅ Main Message / Moral:
Life is precious and must be lived with purpose.
Work hard, be brave, and stay hopeful.
Focus on the present and leave behind a positive legacy.
"A Psalm of Life" କବିତାର ସାରାଂଶ (Odia Summary)
"A Psalm of Life" ଏକ ପ୍ରେରଣାଦାୟକ କବିତା ଯାହା ଆମକୁ କହେ —
ଜୀବନ ଅର୍ଥହୀନ କିମ୍ବା କେବଳ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ପାଇଁ ଅପେକ୍ଷା କରିବା ନୁହେଁ। ଏହା ଏକ ଗମ୍ଭୀର, ସତ୍ୟ ଓ ମୂଲ୍ୟବାନ ଯାତ୍ରା।
କବି କହୁଛନ୍ତି ଯେ, ଆମେ କେବଳ ସୁଖ କିମ୍ବା ଦୁଃଖ ପାଇଁ ଜନ୍ମ ନେଇନାହିଁ। ଆମ ପ୍ରକୃତ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ହେଉଛି— ଦିନକୁ ଦିନ ଉନ୍ନତି କରିବା, କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବା, ଓ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଜୀବନକୁ ଅର୍ଥପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିବା।
ସେ କହନ୍ତି ଯେ, ଜୀବନ ଏକ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କ୍ଷେତ୍ର, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ଆମେ ସାମନା କରିବା ଓ ସାହସ ଦେଖାଇବା ଦରକାର। ଆମେ ଜୀବନକୁ ଗମ୍ଭୀର ଭାବେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଦରକାର, ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପଛରେ ଅନୁସରଣ କରିବା ନୁହେଁ।
ସେ ଆମକୁ କହିଛନ୍ତି ଯେ ଅତୀତକୁ ଛାଡିଦିଅ, ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଉପରେ ଅଧିକ ଆଶା ରଖ ନାହିଁ, ବରଂ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନରେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କର। ଆପଣଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ ସାହସ ଓ ଭଗବାନ ପ୍ରତି ଆସ୍ଥା ଥିବା ଦରକାର।
କବି ଏହା ମଧ୍ୟ କହୁଛନ୍ତି ଯେ, ବଡ଼ ଲୋକମାନେ ଯେପରି ତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନକୁ ମହାନ କରିଛନ୍ତି, ଆମେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତେଣୁପରି ହୋଇପାରିବା। ଆମେ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ପରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଆଶା ଓ ପ୍ରେରଣା ଛାଡିପାରିବା।
ସେହିପାଇଁ ଶେଷରେ ସେ ଆମକୁ କହୁଛନ୍ତି — ତୁମେ ଉଠ, କାମ କର, ସାହସ ରଖ, ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ ରଖ, ଓ ଜୀବନକୁ ମହାନ କର।
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✅ ମୂଖ୍ୟ ସନ୍ଦେଶ / ନୀତିଶିକ୍ଷା:
ଜୀବନ ମୂଲ୍ୟବାନ ଅଟେ, ଏହାକୁ ଅର୍ଥପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭାବେ ବ୍ୟତୀତ କର।
କାମ କର, ସାହସ ଦେଖା, ଓ ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଧର।
ଏଭଳି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କର ଯାହା ଅନ୍ୟମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପଛୁଆ ପଥ
ଦେଖି ଆଶା ଅନୁଭବ କରନ୍ତି।
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