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Sing to me! Something of sunlight and bloom,
I am so compassed with sorrow and gloom,
I am so sick with the world’s noise and strife,
Sing of the beauty and brightness of life—
Sing to me, sing to me!
Sing to me! Something that’s jubilant, glad!
I am so weary, my soul so sad.
All my earth riches are covered with rust,
All my bright dreams are but ashes and dust.
Sing to me, sing to me!
Sing of the blossoms that open in spring,
How the sweet flowers blow, and the long lichens cling,
Say, though the winter is round about me,
There are bright summers and springs yet to be.
Sing to me, sing to me!
Sing me a song full of hope and of truth,
Brimming with all the sweet fancies of youth!
Say, though my sorrow I may not forget,
I have not quite done with happiness yet.
Sing to me, sing to me!
Lay your soft fingers just here, on my cheek;
Turn the light lower—there—no, do not speak,
But sing! My heart thrills at your beautiful voice;
Sing till I turn from my grief and rejoice.
Sing to me, sing to me!
This poem is in the public domain.
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Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919) was a popular and prolific poet. Published and lauded before she even graduated from high school, Ella preferred to write happy, upbeat poetry and was much beloved for it. More than a dozen of her poems are included in the book, Best Loved Poems of the American People (Doubleday, 2008). The familiar saying, "Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep, and you weep alone. . ." comes from her best-known poem, "Solitude." A morally strong and spiritual person, Ella believed that her purpose on earth was to practice kindness and service. Read more about her here.
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EstherJ:
I love this one. Remembering joy in the midst of sadness, light when in the grasp of darkness. Believing that bad does not last forever. Holding on to hope.
Posted 08/21/2024 09:51 AM
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rhonasheridan:
How lovely this poem is. Considering the dreadful news in the papers today i feel it is especially pertinent.
Posted 08/21/2014 04:47 AM
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KevinArnold:
With couplets like this how can she be forgotten:
There are bright summers and springs yet to be./
Sing to me, sing to me! //
Posted 08/20/2014 11:39 PM
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poetronics:
And she was alive during one of the words wars in our world's history. I wonder if that is what spurred her to write this poem...hearing of all the tragedies of the day. Thanks for this!
Posted 08/20/2014 11:12 PM
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