Desiderata

During 1970s, I had a poem framed and hanging on the wall of my house. I guess there were a lot of people who had this particular poem on their wall. I thought it was written in the 1600s and was found carved inside the steeple in some church in Baltimore.

Turns out, according to Wikipedia that the Desiderata was written in 1927 by American poet Max Ehrmann and the Baltimore church rumor started because “In 1956, the Reverend Frederick Kates, rector of Saint Paul's Church in Baltimore, Maryland, included Desiderata in a compilation of devotional materials for his congregation. The compilation included the church's foundation date: "Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore AD 1692".So people, including me mistakenly thought that was the origination of the poem.

The whole “carved into the inside of the steeple” bit was doubtless just the natural expansion of the urban myth surrounding the poem.

With all the craziness in the world this morning, I found myself thinking about this poem again and thought I would share it.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,

they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs;

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love;

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata Copyright 1927

Breathe deeply and now exhale -sigh. Maybe even read it again and repeat the breathing.

Now for all those who need a laugh and who, like me, are comfortable with carrying both hopeful homily and cynical parody in your brains at the same time, here is the National Lampoon’s version: Deteriorata: