I’ve learned by Omer B. Washington

I’ve learned by Omer B. Washington

I’ve learned-
that you cannot make someone love you.

All you can do is be someone who can be loved.

The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how much I care,

Some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned-
that it takes years to build up trust,

 and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how good a friend is,

they’re going to hurt you every once in a while

and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned-
that it’s not what you have in your life

but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned-
that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.

I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.

I’ve learned-
that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned-
that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned-
that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.

It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned-

that we are responsible for what we do,

no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned-
that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned-
that heroes are the people who do what has to be done

 when it needs to be done regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned-
that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down

will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned-
that true friendship continues to grow,

even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned-
that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to,

doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned-
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences

You’ve had and what you’ve learned from them

And less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned-
that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.

Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I’ve learned-
that your family won’t always be there for you.

 It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to

can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again.

I’ve learned-
that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others.

Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned-
that our background and circumstances

may have influenced who we are,

but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned-
that a rich person is not the one who has the most,

but is one who needs the least.

I’ve learned-
that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.

And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned-
that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned-
that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line

Between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings,

And standing up for what you believe.

Prayer of a sportsman by Berton Braley

Prayer of a sportsman by Berton Braley

Dear Lord, in the battle that goes on through life
I ask but a field that is fair,
A chance that is equal with all in the strife,
A courage to strive and to dare;

And if should win, let it be by the code
With my faith and my honor held high;
And if I should lose, let me stand by the road,
And cheer as the winners go by.

And Lord, may my shouts be ungrudging and clear,
A tribute that comes from the heart,
And let me not cherish a snarl or a sneer
Or play any sniveling part;

Let me say, "There they ride, on whom laurel's bestowed
Since they played the game better than I."
Let me stand with a smile by the side of the road,
And cheer as the winners go by.

So grant me to conquer, if conquer I can,
By proving my worth in the fray,
But teach me to lose like a regular man,
And not like a craven, I pray;

Let me take off my hat to the warriors who strode
To victory splendid and high,
Yea, teach me to stand by the side of the road
And cheer as the winners go by.

I believe by Robert W. Service

I believe by Robert W. Service

It’s my belief that every man

Should do his share of work,

And in our economic plan

No citizen should shirk.

That in return each one should get

His meed of fold and food,

And feel that all his toil and sweat

Is for the common good.

It’s my belief that every chap

Should have an equal start,

And there should be no handicap

To hinder his depart;

That there be fairness in the fight,

And justice in the race,

And every lad should have the right

To win his proper place.

It’s my belief that people should

Be neither rich nor poor;

That none should suffer servitude,

And all should be secure.

That wealth is loot, and rank is rot,

And foul is class and clan;

That to succeed a man may not

Exploit his brother man.

It’s my belief that heritage

And usury are wrong;

That each should win a worthy wage

And sing an honest song ....

Not one like this for though I rue

The wrong of life, I flout it.

Alas! I’m not prepared to do

A goddam thing about it

Joy and pleasure by William Henry Davies

Joy and pleasure by William Henry Davies

Now, joy is born of parents poor,
And pleasure of our richer kind;
Though pleasure's free, she cannot sing
As sweet a song as joy confined.

Pleasure's a Moth, that sleeps by day
And dances by false glare at night;
But Joy's a Butterfly, that loves
To spread its wings in Nature's light.

Joy's like a Bee that gently sucks
Away on blossoms its sweet hour;
But pleasure's like a greedy Wasp,
That plums and cherries would devour.

Joy's like a Lark that lives alone,
Whose ties are very strong, though few;
But Pleasure like a Cuckoo roams,
Makes much acquaintance, no friends true.

Joy from her heart doth sing at home,
With little care if others hear;
But pleasure then is cold and dumb,
And sings and laughs with strangers near. 

It is later than you think by Robert W. Service

It is later than you think by Robert W. Service

Lone amid the café’s cheer,

Sad of heart am I to-night;

Dolefully I drink my beer,

But no single line I write.

There’s the wretched rent to pay,

Yet I glower at pen and ink:

Oh, inspire me, Muse, I pray,

It is later than you think!

Hello! there’s a pregnant phrase.

Bravo! let me write it down;

Hold it with a hopeful gaze,

Gauge it with a fretful frown;

Tune it to my lyric lyre ...   

Ah! upon starvation’s brink,

How the words are dark and dire:

It is later than you think.

Weigh them well.... Behold yon band,

Students drinking by the door,

Madly merry, bock in hand,

Saucers stacked to mark their score.

Get you gone, you jolly scamps;

Let your parting glasses clink;

Seek your long neglected lamps:

It is later than you think.

Look again: yon dainty blonde,

All allure and golden grace,

Oh so willing to respond

Should you turn a smiling face.

Play your part, poor pretty doll;

Feast and frolic, pose and prink;

There’s the Morgue to end it all,

And it’s later than you think.

Yon’s a playwright — mark his face,

Puffed and purple, tense and tired;

Pasha-like he holds his place,

Hated, envied and admired.

How you gobble life, my friend;

Wine, and woman soft and pink!

Well, each tether has its end:

Sir, it’s later than you think.

See yon living scarecrow pass

With a wild and wolfish stare

At each empty absinthe glass,

As if he saw Heaven there.

Poor damned wretch, to end your pain

There is still the Greater Drink.

Yonder waits the sanguine Seine ...

It is later than you think.

Lastly, you who read; aye, you

Who this very line may scan:

Think of all you planned to do ...   

Have you done the best you can?

See! the tavern lights are low;

Black’s the night, and how you shrink!

God! and is it time to go?

Ah! the clock is always slow;

It is later than you think;

Sadly later than you think;

Far, far later than you think.

Money by William Henry Davies

Money by William Henry Davies

When I had money, money, O!
I knew no joy till I went poor;
For many a false man as a friend
Came knocking all day at my door.

Then felt I like a child that holds
A trumpet that he must not blow
Because a man is dead; I dared
Not speak to let this false world know.

Much have I thought of life, and seen
How poor men’s hearts are ever light;
And how their wives do hum like bees
About their work from morn till night.

So, when I hear these poor ones laugh,
And see the rich ones coldly frown—
Poor men, think I, need not go up
So much as rich men should come down.

When I had money, money, O!
My many friends proved all untrue;
But now I have no money, O!
My friends are real, though very few. 

Leisure by William Henry Davies

Leisure by William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare