Interpretation of A Psalm of Life by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow

红色字体不是自己写的

It was first published in Voice of the Night in the September edition of New York Monthly in 1839. It is very influential in China, because it is said to be the first English poem translated into Chinese.

The relationship of life and death is a constant theme for poets.

Longfellow expresses his pertinent interpretation to that by warning us that though life is hard and everybody must die, time flies and life is short, yet, human beings ought to be bold “to act,” to face the reality straightly so as to make otherwise meaningless life significant.

Tone of this poem is optimistic.

The first two stanzas are the first section, which tells that life is important and the grave is not our goal. From Stanza 3 to Stanza 5, action speaks louder than words. Stanza 7 and stanza 8 gives the strengths of examples. Stanza 9 is the conclusion: Be brave against any fate and learn to labor and to wait.

In the first stanza, do not tell me in mournful meters: Life is but an empty dream! The soul that sleeps is dead. Things have changed.

In the second stanza, life is real and important. Although all mortal men will die, the grave or death is not our goal.

In the third stanza, face the reality or fate with action, through which each finds us farther than today.

In the fourth stanza, although we are stout and brave, we are destined to die. Life is short, but art is everlasting.

In the fifth stanza, life is compared to the broad field of battle in the bivouac of life. “field, bivouac” are metaphors. Be a hero in the strife!

In the sixth stanza, the past is the past and the future is the future. Live and act in the living present with heart within and God overhead!

In the seventh stanza, lives of great men set a good example for us. When we die, we should leave footprints on the sands of time.

In the eighth stanza, metaphor is used. Footprints are compared to a good example. A despair and shipwrecked brother is compared to the unsuccessful and desperate person. A despair and shipwrecked brother who is sailing over life’s solemn main shall take heart again when they see footprints.

The ninth stanza is the concluding stanza and it reemphasize the theme. The tone is optimistic. Let us be brave against any fate and take actions. Learn to labor and to wait although life is short and hard.

2022-12-27

诗歌原文

 

A Psalm of Life

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

•      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.

 

•      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,

•      Is our destined end or way;

•      But to act, that each to-morrow

•      Find us farther than to-day.

 

•      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.

 

 

•      In the world's broad field of battle,

•      In the bivouac野营、露营 of Life,

•      Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

•      Be a hero in the strife奋斗!

 

•      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!

 

 

•      Lives of great men all remind us

•      We can make our lives sublime,

•      And, departing, leave behind us

•      Footprints on the sands of time;--

 

•      Footprints, that perhaps another,

•      Sailing o'er life's solemn main,

•      A forlorn绝望的 and shipwrecked brother,

•      Seeing, shall take heart again.

 

•      Let us, then, be up and doing,

•      With a heart for any fate;

•      Still achieving, still pursuing,

•      Learn to labor and to wait.