Solitude

[masumeh]

I was just thinking about this poem and how people kind of like to borrow positive energy by positive company; but how this also means that few sturdy friends stay close during a hardship. Probably we all know this poem, but it's so good, thought I'd post it in case some of us haven't seen it before.

SOLITUDE

Laugh, and the world laughs with you:

Weep, and you weep alone;

For the sad old earth

Must borrow its mirth,

It has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air;

The echoes bound

To a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go;

They want full measure

Of all your pleasure,

But they do not want your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

Be sad, and you lose them all;

There are none to decline

Your nectared wine,

But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

Fast, and the world goes by;

Succeed and give,

And it helps you live,

But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a long and lordly train;

But one by one

We must all file on

Through the narrow aisles of pain.

[nunibenuni]

I never heard that poem before. It is great! Thanks for posting it.

[Guest tearose]

I had never seen the whole poem before.

It reminds me of those rainy day friends and those who say to "stay away from people who are not happy". Happy and Sad are just passing feelings. Life and blessing are continuous. If we did not stick by our friends in their time of rain, who would be there for us?

You call them "sturdy" friends. I suppose real good friends do in fact have sturdy relationships with us and that is why they endure.

It only takes one friend to make a difference!

thank you for this poem,

tearose