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Share a poem that you found inspirational.

How Did You Die?
by
Edmund Vance Cooke


Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there -- that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,
It's how did you fight -- and why?
And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only how did you die?
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sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
I share with you a warriors poem from a native American chieftain.

Chief Tecumseh's Poem

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion;
respect others in their view,
and demand that they respect yours.

Love your life,
perfect your life,
beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
even a stranger, when in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason for giving thanks,
the fault lies only in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing,
for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."


~ Chief Tecumseh

@sarabee1995 “die like a hero going home” 👍
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
@BiasForAction Yup. Live your life today. Don't wait until ten minutes before your time to negotiate with your god.

I first saw this poem in a movie my first year of undergrad. It struck me so hard that I looked it up and found the story behind it and the story of Tecumseh. I printed it out and put it over my desk. A few months later the printout was replaced by a poster with it. That poster sat over my desk for the next three years. When I started at Georgetown and got my first apartment there, I found a wood plaque with this. That plaque is now hanging in my boat.

Chief Tecumseh's Poem is now my life philosophy. :)