My life's mantra.
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27560)
Philippines
March 7, 2018 4:13pm CST
I didn't want to outsmart my Literature teacher when she asked us, as a final requirement for our senior year course, to memorize a poem and deliver the poem in class.
My classmates and I browsed through books. Quickly, the poems The Raven, Annabelle Lee, O Captain My Captain were reserved. I wasn't fast enough to read and reserve for a poem I like. Even Invictus escaped my search.
However, at the very last page of an anthology of great poems, a short poem that renders the poet anonymous. caught my attention. I decided it had to be my poem.
It was easy enough to memorize, and when I recited it in class, all under a minute as compared to the lengthy and unfinished deliveries my classmates did, my teacher gave me a very good grade.
The poem became a guiding mantra . Here it is.
"Through this toilsome world, alas!
Once and only once I pass.
If a kindness I may show,
If a good deed I may do,
To my suffering fellow men
Let me do it while I can
Nor delay it, for t’is plain
I shall not pass this way again."
4 people like this
6 responses
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
7 Mar 18
that is a good one. mine was Even this Shall Pass
can't remember it all nor the name of the author now. but it was about life's trials and pain. and how they pass
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
7 Mar 18
I think the lines you know is a variation of the poem. Many have tried to rewrite and claim it for their own but to this day, the researches deem this poem anonymous.
Whoever wrote this, I thank him or her with all my heart. Ever since I learned of this poem, I also learned of compassion towards our fellow man.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Mar 18
Very nice and its lovely and good to remember also.
Congrats on getting such a good grade.
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@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
7 Mar 18
I have disseminated this poem to both my students and colleagues in school, some three decades back, and I continue to tell others, when there is an opportunity to do so.
As of late, my elder daughter became inquisitive about my teaching days, and this poem came up, of course. She found my story hilarious, because she knew my classmates and call them Tita, or Auntie, as you may know perhaps.
No pun intended. Ha ha . Just in case my classmates find this site and read this post.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
7 Mar 18
@lovinangelsinstead21 I was teaching college when the call of motherhood posted a dilemma. I made a decision opting to rear my daughters my self. I cannot teach a thousand students a semester and think my daughters are left to the yaya, or nanny, who cannot feed good lessons in the child's formative years.
I did open up a tutorial center and tutored young boys from exclusive schools. That took care of the income.
Eventually, I transformed my tutorial center to a nursery/preparatory school, my daughters my premiere pupils, and they were willing enough to share their books and toys with other children. I realized I need not teach formally, for the children were excited enough to learn from each other.
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@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Mar 18
@eileenleyva
Did you give up teaching altogether then?
What a shame if you did and you must miss it.
Great poem short and to the point as we say where I come from that is the West Midlands Great Britain.
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@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
7 Mar 18
It's early morning and your poem made me a little bit sad cause I was praying for all the things that are happening to our country right now.
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@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
7 Mar 18
louievill, I've wondered where you've been. (sorry, the insulin thing worked and I had to munch something, thus the delayed response).
Yes, the leadership of this country has imitated the Hunger Games and has turned wannabe dictators into self aggrandizing fools.
Ironic this women's month and our women are attacked and condescended. The monster in Malacanyang inadvertently admitted his disrespect of his own mother and received a shocked audience unbelieving.
I believe our nation's concerns have reached gargantuan monstrosity and our grounds are being shaken but I also believe these are mere tests of our fortitude as a people. This will come to pass quickly enough, though we may be in for a lot of work afterwards.
Do not be afraid. Heroes emerge at the most impeccable moment. You and I are again up to exciting times.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
@eileenleyva from your poem it seems like the sacrifices and good deeds of those who have passed is being trashed, there is so much divisiveness and ignorance going on.
The mere hearing of the highest leader of our land cussing and hurling invictives on public tv as if its a normal thing to do while the audience applauds pains me so much, and come to think of it, it's only an appetizer of what is actually going on everyday.
We never learned and much worst people have gone callous and had become dependent on small dole outs
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
@louievill Do not listen anymore. Just focus on the news but not that monster. The monster is a vexation to the spirit and must not merit any space in our senses, especially the sight and the hearing. The cardinal rule is to avoid loud and despicable people, for we do not deserve such monstrosity. But keep your guard, always.
People got temporarily afraid, I suppose, because the killing was blatant. That is the present situation of the world. In Syria, a thousand innocent children lost their lives.
louievill, I cease not my prayers and rendering good to a fellow man. That is a subtle way of countering evil. Usually, I double or triple the acts of kindness, so the bad will be defeated soon enough.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
Poetry resides in the heart of compassionate and loving people. That is why poets verbalized their thoughts and emotions. Your mother is such a lady, I hereby conclude. Just as you are, just because you are her child. Ha ha. But also because I see your kindness in your responses.
Here's to your mother.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
@JudyEv Wow. That declaration spells the beauty of a human person.
Longevity is a blessing and our good God bestowed that gift to your mother. And in gracefulness your mother chose poetry and flowers, the most serene and beautiful expression of love. And she has you for a daughter. How lovely.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Mar 18
@eileenleyva Thank you for the kind words. Mum worked hard all her life and lived to 104. She had a hip replacement at 99. I still miss her but think of her every time I see a lovely flower or garden or a beautiful tree as these were the things she especially loved.
1 person likes this
@rainekira (31)
• San Fernando, Philippines
7 Mar 18
I think I've read thiese lines somewhere. What is the title of the poem?
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