30 Inspirational Poems That Will Boost Your Mood (2024)

Table of Contents
Inspirational poems that’ll raise your spirits 1. “Promise” by Georgia Douglas Johnson 2. “Shadows” by Langston Hughes 3. “A Song of Hope” by Charles Bertram Johnson 4. “The Plains of Peace” by Olivia Ward Bush-Banks 5. “Margrethe” by William Saphier 6. “A Song” by Lucretia Maria Davidson 7. “Renewal of Strength” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper 8. “When My Soul Findeth Wings” by Libbie C. Baer 9. “Credo” by Alfred Kreymborg 10. “War” by Leslie Coulson 11. “When I Rise Up” by Georgia Douglas Johnson 12. “The Old Stoic” by Emily Brontë 13. “Songs for the People” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper 14. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson 15. “Sic Vita” by William Stanley Braithwaite 16. “He Had His Dream” by Paul Laurence Dunbar 17. “Beat, Old Heart” by Carl Sandburg 18. “When I Read the Book” by Walt Whitman 19. “See It Through” by Edgar Guest 20. “George Gray” by Edgar Lee Masters 21. “Hope is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson 22. “Dreams” by Langston Hughes 23. “Ode to Duty” by William Wordsworth 24. “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost 25. “If I can stop one heart from breaking” by Emily Dickinson 26. “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley 27. “As You Go Through Life” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox 28. “Don’t Take Your Troubles to Bed” by Edmund Vance Cooke 29. “In Spite of War” by Angela Morgan 30. “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman Why trust us FAQs

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30 Inspirational Poems That Will Boost Your Mood (1)

ByAkram Herrak

Updated: Apr. 22, 2024

    When life brings you down, turn to these inspirational poems for a bit of encouragement

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    Inspirational poems that’ll raise your spirits

    Thousands of years ago, humankind figured out how to transform one of our greatest inventions into infinite beauty, and language gave way to poetry. From the prehistoric poems of the Nile civilizations to contemporary poets changing the literary landscape, poetry encapsulates and immortalizes feelings and emotions. Do you gravitate toward inspirational poems or stanzas of sorrow? Whatever emotion you’re feeling can be found (and often better expressed) in poetry written by people like you who’ve experienced the same thing and found the right words to describe it.

    Whenever I’m feeling down, I know I can find not only solace in poetry but true inspiration as well. No matter how sad I may be, I know a few Walt Whitman verses will remind me of how rare and magnificent it is to be alive.

    Inspirational poems are like love poems written for life itself. Ahead, you’ll find verses that promise a roller coaster of emotions. We can’t help but hit rough bumps from time to time, but we can turn to these inspirational poems for encouragement, motivation and a rekindling of our fire.

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    1. “Promise” by Georgia Douglas Johnson

    Through the moil and the gloom they have issued
    To the steps of the upwinding hill,
    Where the sweet, dulcet pipes of tomorrow
    In their preluding rhapsodies trill.
    With a thud comes a stir in the bosom,
    As there steals on the sight from afar,
    Through a break of a cloud’s coiling shadow
    The gleam of a bright morning star!

    Georgia Douglas Johnson is a very important figure in American poetry. She attended a conservatory in hopes of being a composer, but she slowly shifted toward poetry and became one of the pioneers of the Harlem Renaissance—she held weekly gatherings attended by poets including Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer. Her musical background is beautifully reflected in this poem, as she uses metaphors like the buildup to an epic piece of music, full of hope and inspiration.

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    2. “Shadows” by Langston Hughes

    We run,
    We run,
    We cannot stand these shadows!
    Give us the sun.
    We were not made
    For shade,
    For heavy shade,
    And narrow space of stifling air
    That these white things have made.
    We run,
    Oh, God,
    We run!
    We must break through these shadows,
    We must find the sun.

    We continue our list of inspiring poems about life with another great figure of the Harlem Renaissance: Langston Hughes. Like some of the best Black poets throughout history, Hughes provides rich insights with poetry about love, race and common struggles. And although his poems have a brutal side to them, there is an unmistakable tone of hope. In “Shadows,” he speaks of escape, but not in the cowardly sense. He is escaping past sorrows in search of something better—the sun, as he calls it.

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    3. “A Song of Hope” by Charles Bertram Johnson

    Day is at the gate,
    I am risen late;
    Clouds laze in the air,
    Clouds sleep on the grass;
    I have song to spare
    Till the shadows pass.
    Day is at the noon,
    No thread of bow or moon;
    Rain is in the air,
    Drenched and limp the grass;
    I have song to spare
    Till the shadows pass.
    Day is at the close,
    Faith no logic knows;
    Rain-clouds blur the air,
    All the world is dun;
    I have song to spare
    Till to-morrow’s sun.

    Much like Langston Hughes in the poem “Shadows,” Charles Bertram Johnson uses metaphors and thematics to promise hope after periods of rain and gloom. When things seem dreadful, remember that tomorrow brings sunshine and a song.

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    4. “The Plains of Peace” by Olivia Ward Bush-Banks

    Again my fancy takes its flight,
    And soars away on thoughtful wing,
    Again my soul thrills with delight,
    And this the fancied theme, I sing,
    From Earthly scenes awhile, I find release,
    And dwell upon the restful Plains of Peace.
    The Plains of Peace are passing fair,
    Where naught disturbs and naught can harm,
    I find no sorrow, woe or care,
    These all are lost in perfect calm,
    Bright are the joys, and pleasures never cease,
    For those who dwell on the Plains of Peace.

    From the beginning of this poem, you can feel Olivia Ward Bush-Banks’ voice of hope and inspiration in its beautiful verses. She speaks in divine proportions of a place where there is no sorrow and misery, where all dreams come true, and as the poem progresses, you’ll feel an overwhelming sense of inspiration rise within. (Read the full poem for more.)

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    5. “Margrethe” by William Saphier

    You are an ice covered twig
    with a quiet, smiling sap
    The spring winds of life
    have tested your steel-blade soul
    and the harsh breath of men
    covered you with a frigid shell.
    But under the transparent ice
    I have seen your warm hand
    ready to tear the shell
    and grasp the love-sun’s heat,
    and your cool morning eyes
    look clear and calm into the day.

    Much like a nature poem, “Margrethe” uses metaphors of ice, sap and spring to paint a picture of love pushing through as winter gives way to warmer times. In the most beautiful way, William Saphier says, “This too shall pass.”

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    6. “A Song” by Lucretia Maria Davidson

    Life is but a troubled ocean,
    Hope a meteor, love a flower
    Which blossoms in the morning beam,
    And whithers with the evening hour.
    Ambition is a dizzy height,
    And glory, but a lightning gleam;
    Fame is a bubble, dazzling bright,
    Which fairest shines in fortune’s beam.
    When clouds and darkness veil the skies,
    And sorrow’s blast blows loud and chill,
    Friendship shall like a rainbow rise,
    And softly whisper—peace, be still.

    Lucretia Maria Davidson wrote this poem when she was only 15 years old. Written in the early 1800s, “A Song” criticizes our obsession with ambition and fame, the reasons for much of the modern world’s worries. She reminds us of what really matters. To her, true friendship will always be there for us. As for everything else, it will naturally fit into its place.

    7. “Renewal of Strength” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

    The prison-house in which I live
    Is falling to decay,
    But God renews my spirit’s strength
    Within these walls of clay.

    For me a dimness slowly creeps
    Around earth’s fairest light,
    But heaven grows clearer to my view,
    And fairer to my sight.

    It may be earth’s sweet harmonies
    Are duller to my ear,
    But music from my Father’s house
    Begins to float more near.

    Then let the pillars of my home
    Crumble and fall away;
    Lo, God’s dear love within my soul
    Renews it day by day.

    “Renewal of Strength” tells us that belief is a great source of inspiration in troubled times. It does not have to be belief in a deity, for simply believing in something is the beginning of a path toward a better tomorrow.

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    8. “When My Soul Findeth Wings” by Libbie C. Baer

    Like roses the bright dream did pass,
    On swift, noiseless footsteps away;
    Like glistening dew on the grass,
    Dissolving beneath the sun’s ray.

    Like voice of the lark that doth soar,
    Through the golden haze of the dawn;
    You hear it and bend to adore,
    Just hear it and then it is gone.

    Libbie C. Baer narrates a dream of a celestial being who is so utterly perfect in “When My Soul Findeth Wings.” This, of course, is a metaphor for what we seek to be. The catch here is that we need to “grow wings,” or find the inspiration to chase the image of ourselves that we dream of. At the end of the full-length poem, she realizes she has a long way to go before she finds her wings.

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    9. “Credo” by Alfred Kreymborg

    I sing the will to love:
    the will that carves the will to live,
    the will that saps the will to hurt,
    the will that kills the will to die;
    the will that made and keeps you warm,
    the will that points your eyes ahead,
    the will that makes you give, not get,
    a give and get that tell us what you are:
    how much a god, how much a human.
    I call on you to live the will to love.

    This is more a poem about life than merely a poem of inspiration. In “Credo,” Alfred Kreymborg speaks to our humanity, saying that once we find the will to love, we can live happily and with none of the tragedy we see every day. We are all able to reach that state, and it’s simply by realizing that we are human.

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    10. “War” by Leslie Coulson

    What war has left its wake of whitened bone,
    Soft stems of summer grass shall wave again,
    And all the blood that war has ever strewn
    Is but a passing stain.

    This is a short poem with immeasurable depth. In “War,” Leslie Coulson writes about our most miserable states in order to say that things do get better. We all experience different “wars,” and it’s important to remember that from their ashen battlefields, hope can rise again.

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    11. “When I Rise Up” by Georgia Douglas Johnson

    When I rise up above the earth,
    And look down on the things that fetter me,
    I beat my wings upon the air,
    Or tranquil lie,
    Surge after surge of potent strength
    Like incense comes to me
    When I rise up above the earth
    And look down upon the things that fetter me.

    In a list of inspiring poems, one work by Georgia Douglas Johnson is not enough. So here is another one. “When I Rise Up” is a celebration of being unchained, breaking free from everything that holds you down.

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    12. “The Old Stoic” by Emily Brontë

    Riches I hold in light esteem,
    And Love I laugh to scorn;
    And lust of fame was but a dream,
    That vanished with the morn:

    And if I pray, the only prayer
    That moves my lips for me
    Is, “Leave the heart that now I bear,
    And give me liberty!”

    Yes, as my swift days near their goal:
    ‘Tis all that I implore;
    In life and death a chainless soul,
    With courage to endure.

    Emily Brontë is a name that needs no introduction in literary history, as she penned one of the most celebrated classics books of all time: Wuthering Heights. In “The Old Stoic,” she reminds us that most of the things that bring us down, like wealth and fleeting relationships, are completely futile. Stoics endure what life throws their way, and for that, they are generously rewarded with true happiness and peace of mind.

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    13. “Songs for the People” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

    Let me make the songs for the people,
    Songs for the old and young;
    Songs to stir like a battle-cry
    Wherever they are sung.
    Not for the clashing of sabres,
    For carnage nor for strife;
    But songs to thrill the hearts of men
    With more abundant life.

    Frances Ellen Watkins Harper’s poem is essentially a declaration of her mission to offer inspiration to humans who desperately need it, and she does this through inspirational poems. Songs of hope, she writes, are still needed as long as there is misery in the world, and she maintains hope that one day, we’ll no longer have to sing.

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    14. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson

    Lift every voice and sing,
    Till earth and heaven ring,
    Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
    Let our rejoicing rise
    High as the list’ning skies,
    Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
    Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
    Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
    Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
    Let us march on till victory is won.

    Continuing with inspirational poems that use the metaphor of song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” promises better days if we can all get together and just … sing. In a world constantly divided by infinite things, it is important to remember that we are sharing this planet with humans who are the same as us. While the full poem has a religious side, its message is universal.

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    15. “Sic Vita” by William Stanley Braithwaite

    Heart free, hand free,
    Blue above, brown under,
    All the world to me
    Is a place of wonder.
    Sun shine, moon shine,
    Stars, and winds a-blowing.
    All into this heart of mine
    Flowing, flowing, flowing!

    Mind free, step free,
    Days to follow after,
    Joys of life sold to me
    For the price of laughter.
    Girl’s love, man’s love,
    Love of work and duty,
    Just a will of God’s to prove
    Beauty, beauty, beauty!

    Not to be mistaken with Henry David Thoreau’s poem by the same name, William Stanley Braithwaite’s “Sic Vita,” named after the Latin phrase for “such is human life,” is one of the most elegant inspirational poems. Using different metaphors, he paints an image of serenity, featuring themes of love, hope, joy and beauty.

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    16. “He Had His Dream” by Paul Laurence Dunbar

    He had his dream, and all through life,
    Worked up to it through toil and strife.
    Afloat fore’er before his eyes,
    It colored for him all his skies:
    The storm-cloud dark
    Above his bark,
    The calm and listless vault of blue
    Took on its hopeful hue,
    It tinctured every passing beam—
    He had his dream.

    He labored hard and failed at last,
    His sails too weak to bear the blast,
    The raging tempests tore away
    And sent his beating bark astray.
    But what cared he
    For wind or sea!
    He said, “The tempest will be short,
    My bark will come to port.”
    He saw through every cloud a gleam—
    He had his dream.

    “He Had His Dream” is one of the most famous inspirational poems ever written. Paul Laurence Dunbar tells the story of a man who has faced hardships throughout his life but has persevered in the face of every challenge. Whenever things got too hard, he reminded himself that “the tempest will be short.” May yours be as well.

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    17. “Beat, Old Heart” by Carl Sandburg

    Beat, old heart, these are the old bars
    All stragglers have beat against.
    Beat on these bars like the old sea
    Beats on the rocks and beaches.
    Beat here like the old winter winds
    Beat on the prairies and timbers.
    Old grizzlies, eagles, buffalo,
    Their paws and beaks register this.
    Their hides and heads say it with scars.

    Carl Sandburg is one of the most prominent figures in 20th-century literature. He was a biographer, journalist and poet with not one, not two, but three Pulitzer Prizes to his name. In “Beat, Old Heart,” he urges his spirits forward in the face of life, using different metaphors that bring this poem very close to being about nature.

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    18. “When I Read the Book” by Walt Whitman

    When I read the book, the biography famous,
    And is this then (said I) what the author calls a man’s life?
    And so will some one when I am dead and gone write my life?
    (As if any man really knew aught of my life,
    Why even I myself I often think know little or nothing of my real life,
    Only a few hints, a few diffused faint clews and indirections
    I seek for my own use to trace out here.)

    No list of inspirational poems is complete without at least one poem by the great Walt Whitman—he wrote Leaves of Grass, perhaps the most celebrated poetry book. And when it comes to inspirational poems, there is no shortage of uplifting poetic words in that body of work. “When I Read the Book” is about an accomplished person reading their biography and being unable to recognize themself in the book. The beautiful message here is that as long as you’re alive, you must strive to really know yourself. Understand that the way others see you is worthless in comparison.

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    19. “See It Through” by Edgar Guest

    When you’re up against a trouble,
    Meet it squarely, face to face;
    Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
    Plant your feet and take a brace.
    When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
    Do the best that you can do;
    You may fail, but you may conquer,
    See it through!

    When it comes to famous inspirational poems, “See It Through” is at the top of the list. Edgar Guest lists valuable life lessons in the full poem, ending each stanza with “See it through!” The technique of repetition here serves to underline the poem’s messages of courage and perseverance in the face of life’s challenges.

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    20. “George Gray” by Edgar Lee Masters

    I have studied many times
    The marble which was chiseled for me—
    A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
    In truth it pictures not my destination
    But my life.
    For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment;
    Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid;
    Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.
    Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.
    And now I know that we must lift the sail
    And catch the winds of destiny
    Wherever they drive the boat.
    To put meaning in one’s life may end in madness,
    But life without meaning is the torture
    Of restlessness and vague desire—
    It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.

    Not all inspirational poems are going to be cheerful, and some (like “George Gray” by Edgar Lee Masters) are going to resemble a funeral poem in their sorrow. Nonetheless, the inspiration is still very much present in the form of a person long dead expressing regret over missed chances in life. Live fully and leave no room for regrets, says Masters’ speaker from beyond the grave.

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    21. “Hope is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson

    “Hope” is the thing with feathers
    That perches in the soul
    And sings the tune without the words
    And never stops – at all

    And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard
    And sore must be the storm
    That could abash the little Bird
    That kept so many warm

    I’ve heard it in the chillest land
    And on the strangest Sea
    Yet – never – in Extremity,
    It asked a crumb – of me.

    Emily Dickinson fashions hope into a tiny bird that lives inside human hearts. It is there for us in difficult times as a reminder of the great days past and future. Hope is present no matter what—you just have to find it. And the great thing is that it doesn’t ask for much more than a crumb in return.

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    22. “Dreams” by Langston Hughes

    Hold fast to dreams
    For if dreams die
    Life is a broken-winged bird
    That cannot fly.
    Hold fast to dreams
    For when dreams go
    Life is a barren field
    Frozen with snow.

    Langston Hughes appears again on our list of inspirational poems, and rightfully so. He was the first African American person to make a living by writing poetry, turning his dreams into a reality. As he writes here, life without dreams is incomplete and paralyzed, like a bird with broken wings.

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    23. “Ode to Duty” by William Wordsworth

    Stern Daughter of the Voice of God!
    O Duty! if that name thou love
    Who art a light to guide, a rod
    To check the erring, and reprove;
    Thou, who art victory and law
    When empty terrors overawe;
    From vain temptations dost set free;
    And calm’st the weary strife of frail humanity!

    William Wordsworth, a great poet of the Romantic Movement who sought meaning in a rapidly changing world, reminds us here (and in the full poem) that fulfillment in life is not always some exaggerated tale of breaking free from everything. Sometimes work and duty, when performed earnestly, can bring more joy and satisfaction than anything else.

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    24. “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

    Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
    And sorry I could not travel both
    And be one traveler, long I stood
    And looked down one as far as I could
    To where it bent in the undergrowth;
    Then took the other, as just as fair,
    And having perhaps the better claim,
    Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
    Though as for that the passing there
    Had worn them really about the same

    This inspirational poem appears in Dead Poets Society, one of my comfort films. Robin Williams’ character, a professor at a prep school, reads Robert Frost’s iconic poem to his students, and their entire view of life changes. Singularity, writing your own destiny, finding your “road”—now that is what makes us human.

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    25. “If I can stop one heart from breaking” by Emily Dickinson

    If I can stop one heart from breaking
    I shall not live in vain
    If I can ease one Life the Aching
    Or cool one in pain
    Or help one fainting Robin
    Unto his Nest again,
    I shall not live in Vain.

    You might assume from the title that this poem is about heartbreak, but that’s not the case.Like many of Emily Dickinson’s poems, “If I can stop one heart from breaking” doesn’t really have a title—it just uses the first line as one. Read the full thing, and you’ll soon see that this poem is about living a good life. In the span of a few lines, Dickinson manages to pack immeasurable depth. She notes that if we can help someone live a better life, no matter how small our contribution, our life earns true meaning.

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    26. “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley

    Out of the night that covers me,
    Black as the pit from pole to pole,
    I thank whatever gods may be
    For my unconquerable soul.

    This right here is the ultimate inspirational poem, and much of that has to do with the circumstances of how it was written. William Ernest Henley had his leg amputated when he was just 17 years old, and he wrote “Invictus” in the healing process. Essentially a declaration of his refusal to let this handicap ruin his life, the full poem says in bold words that you, and only you, are in charge of your destiny.

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    27. “As You Go Through Life” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

    Don’t look for the flaws as you go through life;
    And even when you find them,
    It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind
    And look for the virtue behind them.
    For the cloudiest night has a hint of light
    Somewhere in its shadows hiding;
    It is better by far to hunt for a star,
    Than the spots on the sun abiding.

    The current of life runs ever away
    To the bosom of God’s great ocean.
    Don’t set your force ‘gainst the river’s course
    And think to alter its motion.
    Don’t waste a curse on the universe—
    Remember it lived before you.
    Don’t butt at the storm with your puny form,

    But bend and let it go o’er you.
    The world will never adjust itself
    To suit your whims to the letter.
    Some things must go wrong your whole life long,
    And the sooner you know it the better.
    It is folly to fight with the Infinite,
    And go under at last in the wrestle;
    The wiser man shapes into God’s plan
    As water shapes into a vessel.

    While “Invictus” preaches that we are the masters of our fate, “As You Go Through Life” inspires with the opposite sentiment.Ella Wheeler Wilcox says that no matter how hard we try, there are some things we cannot control and have to accept eventually. There is great comfort in that understanding.

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    28. “Don’t Take Your Troubles to Bed” by Edmund Vance Cooke

    You may labor your fill, friend of mine, if you will;
    You may worry a bit, if you must;
    You may treat your affairs as a series of cares,
    You may live on a scrap and a crust;
    But when the day’s done, put it out of your head;
    Don’t take your troubles to bed.
    You may batter your way through the thick of the fray,
    You may sweat, you may swear, you may grunt;
    You may be a jack-fool if you must, but this rule
    Should ever be kept at the front: —
    Don’t fight with your pillow, but lay down your head
    And kick every worriment out of the bed.
    That friend or that foe (which he is, I don’t know),
    Whose name we have spoken as Death,
    Hovers close to your side, while you run or you ride,
    And he envies the warmth of your breath;
    But he turns him away, with a shake of his head,
    When he finds that you don’t take your troubles to bed

    “Don’t Take Your Troubles to Bed” flows seamlessly with beautiful rhymes and sharp rhythm to give advice in simple and plain words. Don’t take your worries and regrets to the land of dreams. Leave them behind before they begin to accumulate.

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    29. “In Spite of War” by Angela Morgan

    In spite of war, in spite of death,
    In spite of all man’s sufferings,
    Something within me laughs and sings
    And I must praise with all my breath.
    In spite of war, in spite of hate
    Lilacs are blooming at my gate,
    Tulips are tripping down the path
    In spite of war, in spite of wrath.
    “Courage!” the morning-glory saith;
    “Rejoice!” the daisy murmureth,
    And just to live is so divine
    When pansies lift their eyes to mine.

    The clouds are romping with the sea,
    And flashing waves call back to me
    That naught is real but what is fair,
    That everywhere and everywhere
    A glory liveth through despair.
    Though guns may roar and cannon boom,
    Roses are born and gardens bloom;
    My spirit still may light its flame
    At that same torch whence poppies came.
    Where morning’s altar whitely burns
    Lilies may lift their silver urns
    In spite of war, in spite of shame.

    And in my ear a whispering breath,
    “Wake from the nightmare! Look and see
    That life is naught but ecstasy
    In spite of war, in spite of death!”

    Angela Morgan wrote this poem during World War I, which makes it both tragic and truly inspiring. Despite the horrors of war, the speaker finds beauty in nature and hope in daydreaming of life’s return to normal. In the end, war is but a nightmare, and it must end to leave room for brighter days.

    30 Inspirational Poems That Will Boost Your Mood (32)

    RD.com, Getty Images

    30. “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

    I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
    And what I assume you shall assume,
    For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

    I loafe and invite my soul,
    I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

    My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air,
    Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,
    I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
    Hoping to cease not till death.

    And last but not least, here is Walt Whitman’s iconic poem “Song of Myself.” It couldn’t be more fitting to end our list of inspirational poems with what is considered by many to be Whitman’s greatest work. It inspires individuality and originality, and it sheds light on the immense value of creating your own path. Read the full poem and embark on your own journey.

    Why trust us

    AtReader’s Digest,we’recommitted to producing high-quality content by writers withexpertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions, as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure theyremainaccurateand up to date. Read more about ourteam, ourcontributorsand oureditorial policies.

    Sources:

    Originally Published: March 19, 2024

    Author

    Akram Herrak

    Akram writes about film, poetry and literature from his home in Casablanca, Morocco. In addition to Reader's Digest, Akram's work has appeared in A Fistful of Film, Independent Book Review and High on Films, where he has covered some of the world's largest film festivals, including Venice, Toronto and SXSW. He's also a photographer, a chess nationa...

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    30 Inspirational Poems That Will Boost Your Mood (33)

    30 Inspirational Poems That Will Boost Your Mood (2024)

    FAQs

    What are some poems about mental health? ›

    Poems about mental health and wellbeing
    • The Mountain of Life by Nikita Thakrar. ...
    • The Pathways of your mind By Julian Barker. ...
    • When did I become so scared? ...
    • Take Control By Brenda Clark. ...
    • Addicts vs Depressives by Martin Colston. ...
    • Flatlined by Carol Healey. ...
    • Three Steps Away by Pam Holbrook.

    Who is the best motivational poet? ›

    5 of the Most Inspirational Poems to Restore Your Mental Grit and Courage
    • Character of the Happy Warrior (William Wordsworth)
    • Desiderata ("Desired Things") (Max Ehrman)
    • How Did You Die? (Edmund Vance Cooke)
    • If (Rudyard Kipling)
    • Don't Quit (Edgar A. Guest)
    • Invictus ("Unconquered") (William Ernest Henley)
    Feb 23, 2017

    Is poetry good for mental health? ›

    Reading, writing and sharing poetry can help people cope with loneliness or isolation and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, a new study shows.

    How to find mood in a poem? ›

    To identify mood in a poem, start by examining your own emotional response to the poem. Then, examine the various elements present in the poem including setting, imagery, diction, tone, and sound. Analyze how these elements fit together to create mood.

    What is 12 line poems? ›

    A 12-line poem is commonly referred to as a "dodecasyllabic" poem or a "dodecasyllable." Additionally, there are specific poetic forms with 12 lines that have their own names, such as the "Sonnet" (which traditionally consists of 14 lines but can also be written in a shorter 12-line form) and the "Rondeau" (which has a ...

    What is mood poem? ›

    Mood in poetry is the atmosphere created by the poet to evoke certain feelings in their audience, sometimes described as the “emotional landscape” of the poem. Every poem has a mood, from the succinct haiku to pages-long epic poetry.

    What are four positive quotes? ›

    Motivational quotes about success
    • “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — ...
    • “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” — ...
    • “The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.” —
    Jan 17, 2024

    Is anybody happier because you passed their way? ›

    Is anybody happier because you passed his way? Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today? This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through; Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

    What is an inspiration poem? ›

    Inspirational poems are like love poems written for life itself. Ahead, you'll find verses that promise a roller coaster of emotions. We can't help but hit rough bumps from time to time, but we can turn to these inspirational poems for encouragement, motivation and a rekindling of our fire.

    Does poetry help with emotions? ›

    By engaging with poetry, students are able to explore complex emotions and ideas, and develop empathy and understanding for others. Additionally, the act of reciting poetry in front of an audience can help students build self-confidence and overcome anxiety.

    Why does poetry help depression? ›

    Why poetry is good for our mental health. Poetry can provide comfort and boost mood during periods of stress, trauma and grief. Its powerful combination of words, metaphor and meter help us better express ourselves and make sense of the world and our place in it.

    Why is poetry so healing? ›

    Another reason writing poetry can encourage healing is because people can be gentler and more compassionate about themselves when they express their feelings in a poem.

    What is a whole mood? ›

    In today's lingo, a “whole mood” basically just means that you completely agree with what someone said or did. For example, your friend says that they just want to get Chinese food and watch Netflix all night and it sounds like a great idea to you, then that would be a “whole mood”.

    How do I identify my mood? ›

    To identify a mood, stop and think about what you're feeling and why. Put those feelings into words, like, "Wow, I'm really sad right now" or "I'm feeling really alone." You can say this silently to yourself, out loud, or to someone else. Step 2: Accept what you feel.

    Do all poems have a mood? ›

    Every piece of writing has a mood—whether it's a masterwork of literature or a short haiku. Moods are established gradually over the course of an entire work, so it's often difficult to pinpoint the elements that contribute to a work's mood at the level of the sentence or paragraph.

    What are some good quotes for mental health? ›

    Quotes About Mental Health To Share
    • “Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.”
    • “It's okay not to be okay.”
    • “You are not your mental illness.”
    • “Your struggles do not define you.”
    • “Taking care of your mental health is an act of self-love.”
    • “You are worthy of happiness and peace of mind.”
    May 11, 2023

    How to write mental health poetry? ›

    Write from an honest, self-reflective place

    This can allow you to remember both painful and joyful moments, understand previous mindsets, and reflect on who you were then versus who you are now. Explore these topics in your poetry by writing first and foremost for yourself—ultimately, the process should feel cathartic.

    What is a catchy line about mental health? ›

    "Mind Your Mind: Let's Talk, Listen, and Heal Together." "Stronger Minds, Brighter Futures: Invest in Mental Health." "You Are Not Alone: Reach Out, Reach In."

    What is the saddest poem written? ›

    Spring and Fall,” written by Gerard Manley Hopkins in September, 1880, and collected in his Poems and Prose, is the saddest poem ever written.

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