February 27, 2009

Poetry Friday: Courage

Courage

Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting peace.

The soul that knows it not, knows no release

From little things.

Knows not the livid loneliness of fear

Nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear

The sound of wings.



How can Life grant us boon of living, compensate

For dull gray ugliness and pregnant hate

Unless we dare

The soul's dominion? Each time we make a choice, we pay

With courage to behold resistless day

And count it fair.



-- Amelia Earhart, 1927

appeared in Survey magazine

July 1, 1928 p. 60


Poetry Friday is at Mommy's Favorite Children's Books, I believe.

11 comments:

Sara said...

I'm counting this day "fair" because you posted this poem. The kicker was reading the poet's name at the bottom. Yowza.

Yat-Yee said...

She flies a plan AND writes poems. I love it that she says courage is the price for peace.

I needed that today. Thanks.

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Yes Yes Yes!

Sarah Stevenson said...

Wow! Multitalented lady. Very cool!

jama said...

Fabulous!! I idolized her when I was little, but never knew she wrote poetry. Thanks so much!

Beth Kephart said...

Oh, this reminds me, wonderfully, of that slender, gorgeous A.E. novel, I was Amelia Earhardt. Read it if you haven't. Especially the opening page.

Mary Lee said...

Amelia Earhart wrote poetry????!!!!

This one gets copied and stuck on the wall for future readings. And for the days when I need this poem to remember how to count them as fair.

Anonymous said...

Funny how so many people find this one inspirational, and I manage to read it as tragic. Must be me. Or the biopic I saw that talked about her dark moods and whatnot. Because I'm not sure if she's trying to inspire or just trying to work through the dark.

tanita✿davis said...

Kel, I think working through the dark is inspirational. At least that's how I read it.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Tanita,

I never knew Earhart wrote poetry. Add her to the list of my literary heroines!

Ethel Rohan said...

Thanks so much for posting this. I wasn't familiar with it. All too often in life it's easier NOT to be brave, to take the easy route, but it's dulling, deadening. I'm reminded to be brave, to take risks, to be most alive.

Thanks, my friend.