Motivation 2020: Invictus and 12 Poems for Courage
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.” Maya Angelou
Motivation 2020: Invictus and 12 Poems for Courage
Oprah Winfrey MOTIVATION – Best INTERVIEW MOMENTS
How would you define Courage? Recently, I was watching the motivational video above on Oprah. She shared some of the principles that have guided her and I was moved by the story she shared on how she got to recite Invictus for a school event. She was a child and had to learn it in a few days. It takes courage to say Yes to things and then realize you need to honor your commitment immediately. I learned Invictus and many other inspiring poems in school and Oprah’s memory jugged mine. I grew up surrounded by books, music, and poetry, and my love for the medium has stayed with me all my life. As a nursery school kid, I learned nursery rhymes and popular children’s poems of the day. I wrote a few ditties myself and had fun creating, inventing, and reciting poems with my friends. It was a time of innocence, creative play, and adventure. As the years flew by and life’s unpredictable events unfolded around me, I learned songs and poems of courage to sustain me. Invictus is Latin for “unconquered” and this is a season that demands great courage. In this post, I will share 13 poems on courage that have given me great joy. Read on.
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.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul. via poetryfoundation
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise. via poemhunter
Courage by Claude McKay
O lonely heart so timid of approach,
Like the shy tropic flower that shuts its lips
To the faint touch of tender fingertips:
What is your word? What question would you broach?
Your lustrous-warm eyes are too sadly kind
To mask the meaning of your dreamy tale,
Your guarded life too exquisitely frail
Against the daggers of my warring mind.
There is no part of the unyielding earth,
Even bare rocks where the eagles build their nest,
Will give us undisturbed and friendly rest.
No dewfall softens this vast belt of dearth.
But in the socket-chiseled teeth of strife,
That gleam in serried files in all the lands,
We may join hungry, understanding hands,
And drink our share of ardent love and life. via poetryhunter
If- by Rudyard Kipling
(‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and Fairies)
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son! via poetryfoundation
“The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage.” Thucydides
Motivation 2020: Invictus and 12 Poems for Courage
When has Courage played an important role in your life? I was a shy child so every step I took out of my comfort zone was an act of courage. I found courage in the company of my more daring friends and their enthusiasm for play and adventure emboldened me to step out of my shell and embrace life. Of course, some of our childhood play was quite dangerous and we sustained bruises and broken bones for daring to be so stupid. One story that stays with me is of a competition we had to see who could jump over a high fence. As our game progressed, our attempts at higher fences became an attempt to scale a wall. A wall separated our home from our next-door neighbor’s and I was convinced I could jump over that wall. My courageous attempt was a huge mistake because the wall was too high. I fell backward and broke my left leg. The lesson learned was that courage also requires a measure of wisdom…
One of my most courageous acts was to leave the comfort and safety of my family home in the UK and move, alone, to the US. I took a huge chance to leave everything I knew, the friendly, and the familiar, to venture into the unknown in a new country. Courage and grace brought me here and both have sustained me. Every immigrant story is a story of courage because it is never easy to move from a country you grew up in, leaving behind friends and family who love and know you, to new terrain. All of us left home for various reasons; for love, study, adventure, war, and, for some, a better life. It takes courage to start afresh with hope and dreams, and it takes courage to know when it is time to change course and try something entirely new and different. At different points in life, we all have to take that leap. Some of us balk and maintain the status quo, while others leap and expand their horizon to grasp new worlds and grow. Change is inevitable and courage helps us get there. What is your one act of courage you’d like to share?
COURAGE by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Whether the way be dark or light
My soul shall sing as I journey on,
As sweetly sing in the deeps of night
As it sang in the burst of the golden dawn.
Nothing can crush me, or silence me long,
Though the heart be bowed, yet the soul will rise,
Higher and higher on wings of song,
Till it swims like the lark in a sea of skies.
Though youth may fade, and love grow cold,
And friends prove false, and best hopes blight,
Yet the sun will wade in waves of gold,
And the stars in glory will shine at night.
Though all earth’s joys from my life are missed,
And I of the whole world stand bereft,
Yet dawns will be purple and amethyst,
And I cannot be sad while the seas are left.
For I am a part of the mighty whole;
I belong to the system of life and death.
I am under the law of a Great Central,
And strong with the courage of love and faith. via ellawheelerwilcox.org
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 via poemhunter
Don’t Quit by Edgar Albert Guest
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit –
rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about
when he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
when he might have captured the victor’s cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out –
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
it’s when things seem worst that you must not quit. via UBSW
On the Gift of a Book to a Child by Hilaire Belloc
Child! do not throw this book about!
Refrain from the unholy pleasure
Of cutting all the pictures out!
Preserve it as your chiefest treasure.
Child, have you never heard it said
That you are heir to all the ages?
Why, then, your hands were never made
To tear these beautiful thick pages!
Your little hands were made to take
The better things and leave the worse ones:
They also may be used to shake
The Massive Paws of Elder Persons.
And when your prayers complete the day,
Darling, your little tiny hands
Were also made, I think, to pray
For men that lose their fairylands. via poetryfoundation
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for JUL – AUG 2020 are:
07/01 – 01 SUMMER, 04 Independence Day, 06 D-Day,
07/05 – 07 World Chocolate Day
07/12 – 18 Nelson Mandela Day,
07/19 – 24 International Self-Care Day
07/26 – 28 Parents Day, 30 International Day of Friendship, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
08/01 – 01 SUMMER,
08/05 – TBD 07, Purple Heart Day
08/12 – TBD
08/19 – TBD
08/30 – TBD
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Motivation 2020: Invictus and 12 Poems for Courage
Motivation 2020: Invictus and 12 Poems for Courage
What stories/events of COURAGE have you read/heard? I’m sure we have all come across stories that show the sheer feat of the human spirit to act with courage. From the Medal of Valor recipients, the First Responders, and everyday people who perform acts of bravery and courage, we know that it is an admirable quality to have. Is it learned or in our DNA? I believe we can all find that place within that we can tap into to give us the courage to act. It takes effort for some and it’s instinctive for others but however you choose to view COURAGE, it is a quality we could all use today. Read the story below and consider again where and how you developed your own courageous spirit.
STORY: On Bravery and Courage – Author Unknown
One day, a cowardly man came to a master of martial arts and asked to be taught bravery. The master looked at him and said:
– I will teach you on one condition: For the next month, you will live in a big city and tell every person you meet on your way that you are a coward. You will say it loudly and clearly while looking straight into each person’s eyes. The man got really sad because the task seemed very scary. For a couple of days, he was very sad and thoughtful, but to live with his cowardice was so unbearable that he traveled to the city to accomplish his mission.
At first, when meeting passersby, he stalled, lost his speech, and couldn’t speak. But he needed to finish the master’s task, so he decided to overcome his fear. When he came up to his first passerby he was convinced he would die from shame or fear. But his voice grew louder and more confident with every passing day.
One day, the man caught himself speaking up in a strong and loud voice and realized that he was not scared anymore. The more he continued doing the master’s task, the more convinced he was that the fear was abandoning him. Soon, a month had passed and the man returned to the master. He bowed to him and said: Thank you, teacher. I finished your task. Now I’m not afraid anymore. But how did you know that this strange task will help me? The Master replied: Cowardice is only a habit. And by doing the things that scare us, we can destroy our fears and hangups. And now you know that bravery – is also a habit. If you want to make bravery a part of yourself- you need to move forward into the fear. Then the fear will go away, and bravery will take its place.
Triumphant Song of Confidence – Psalm 27- A Psalm of David
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me,
uttering slanders against me,[b]
my adversaries and foes,
they shall stumble and fall.
Though a host encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent,
he will set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies round about me;
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
Thou hast said, “Seek ye my face.”
My heart says to thee,
“Thy face, Lord, do I seek.”
Hide not thy face from me.
Turn not thy servant away in anger,
thou who hast been my help.
Cast me not off, forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me up.
Teach me thy way, O Lord;
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
yea, wait for the Lord! via biblegateway
COURAGE by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
There is a courage, a majestic thing
That springs forth from the brow of pain, full-grown,
Minerva-like, and dares all dangers known,
And all the threatening future yet may bring;
Crowned with the helmet of great suffering,
Serene with that grand strength by martyrs shown,
When at the stake they die and make no moan,
And even as the flames leap up are heard to sing.
A courage so sublime and unafraid,
It wears its sorrows like a coat of mail;
And fate, the archer, passes by dismayed,
Knowing his best-barbed arrows needs must fail
To pierce a soul so armoured and arrayed
That Death himself might look on it and quail via ellawheelerwilcox.org
Desiderata – by Max Ehrmann
Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 to 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 or 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 not this 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 in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.via Yuni.org and goodreads
If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda
I want you to know
one thing.
You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.
Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.
If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.
If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.
But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine. via poemhunter
Character of the Happy Warrior bY William Wordsworth
Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he
That every man in arms should wish to be?
—It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought
Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought
Upon the plan that pleased his boyish thought:
Whose high endeavours are an inward light
That makes the path before him always bright;
Who, with a natural instinct to discern
What knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn;
Abides by this resolve, and stops not there,
But makes his moral being his prime care;
Who, doomed to go in company with Pain,
And Fear, and Bloodshed, miserable train!
Turns his necessity to glorious gain;
In face of these doth exercise a power
Which is our human nature’s highest dower:
Controls them and subdues, transmutes, bereaves
Of their bad influence, and their good receives:
By objects, which might force the soul to abate
Her feeling, rendered more compassionate;
Is placable—because occasions rise
So often that demand such sacrifice;
More skilful in self-knowledge, even more pure,
As tempted more; more able to endure,
As more exposed to suffering and distress;
Thence, also, more alive to tenderness.
—’Tis he whose law is reason; who depends
Upon that law as on the best of friends;
Whence, in a state where men are tempted still
To evil for a guard against worse ill,
And what in quality or act is best
Doth seldom on a right foundation rest,
He labours good on good to fix, and owes
To virtue every triumph that he knows:
—Who, if he rise to station of command,
Rises by open means; and there will stand
On honourable terms, or else retire,
And in himself possess his own desire;
Who comprehends his trust, and to the same
Keeps faithful with a singleness of aim;
And therefore does not stoop, nor lie in wait
For wealth, or honours, or for worldly state;
Whom they must follow; on whose head must fall,
Like showers of manna, if they come at all:
Whose powers shed round him in the common strife,
Or mild concerns of ordinary life,
A constant influence, a peculiar grace;
But who, if he be called upon to face
Some awful moment to which Heaven has joined
Great issues, good or bad for human kind,
Is happy as a Lover; and attired
With sudden brightness, like a Man inspired;
And, through the heat of conflict, keeps the law
In calmness made, and sees what he foresaw;
Or if an unexpected call succeed,
Come when it will, is equal to the need:
—He who, though thus endued as with a sense
And faculty for storm and turbulence,
Is yet a Soul whose master-bias leans
To homefelt pleasures and to gentle scenes;
Sweet images! which, wheresoe’er he be,
Are at his heart; and such fidelity
It is his darling passion to approve;
More brave for this, that he hath much to love:—
‘Tis, finally, the Man, who, lifted high,
Conspicuous object in a Nation’s eye,
Or left unthought-of in obscurity,—
Who, with a toward or untoward lot,
Prosperous or adverse, to his wish or not—
Plays, in the many games of life, that one
Where what he most doth value must be won:
Whom neither shape or danger can dismay,
Nor thought of tender happiness betray;
Who, not content that former worth stand fast,
Looks forward, persevering to the last,
From well to better, daily self-surpast:
Who, whether praise of him must walk the earth
For ever, and to noble deeds give birth,
Or he must fall, to sleep without his fame,
And leave a dead unprofitable name—
Finds comfort in himself and in his cause;
And, while the mortal mist is gathering, draws
His breath in confidence of Heaven’s applause:
This is the happy Warrior; this is he
That every man in arms should wish to be. via poetryfoundation
Any Zen Antics stories via 
Positive Motivation Tip: Courage comes with practice, start where you are and grow.
Motivation Mondays: Our series is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge, or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos – Courage via Pixabay, AND/OR WIKIPEDIA
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos: via Pixabay AND/OR via Wikipedia…
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It was only when I decided to fight my fears, did I ever truly get what I wanted. Courage comes a long way!!
Yes, I agree…
This is wonderful!! I love all these poems – I think we all need more courage in our lives!
The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage! My favorite of all. Sometimes you can say so much in just a few smart words. Love it.
Haha, I like it too
I love the adjective use in If You Forget Me.–implacable, impalpable.
I love these all! Especially the one titled dreams. Thank you for this
Lovely post, I think we could all use a bit of courage from time to time. These poems are wonderful.
So inspiring! My favorite one is ” Still I Rise by Maya Angelou”
Courage I believe is quiet rare these days, These are a Lovely collection of courage poem will save it for my daughter. Thanks for the share.
Lovely collection of motivating and inspiring poems. They’re all a breath of fresh air.
My dad has always taught me to be confident and courageous, and they go hand-in-hand. I love the video from Oprah, I’ve always enjoyed watching/listening to her.
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently”. Totally bang on! I couldn’t agree more. We need even more courage during current testing times.
These poems were all so amazing! I am a huge fan of Wordsworth’s poems. Thank you for sharing these!
Kileen
Such a powerful words to ponder. I enjoyed the motivational video from Oprah as always. Thank you!
Don’t Quit has helped me through tough times when I was younger. Thanks for sharing these!
Locking my hair and making up my mind never to cut it off, took a lot of guts!
Thanks so much for sharing this courageous 13 poems, I have enjoyed my read here. cheers, siennylovesdrawing
These are wonderful poems on courage! It is important to be able to process the element of fear and yet being able to take heart and still be able to push through.
I love this so much! These poems are so inspiring, and they really do instill a sense of courage.
I appreciate this so much, sometimes you need a little extra dose of courage.
First of all I love Oprah and I had seen that before. Second this is a beautiful post
These poems are all meaningful! I had a nice time reading them, thanks for sharing these with us!
These are so great poem! I love all the encouraging poem. It makes me more stronger and confident in life.
Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is one of the most beautiful poems that I have ever read. Every time I read it, I get goosebumps.
I especially need this right now as life has become very difficult. Thank you for putting this together.
Thank you, Marie. Your thoughtful comments are always appreciated. Yes, so many folks are going through difficulties right now. Stay strong and faithful.
Especially with what’s happening in the world, it’s essential to be brave and never give up even if times are tough.
Helpful article indeed. I look forward to reading your other articles as well. Thanks for sharing!
These are amazing! They’re all beautiful and very encouraging but I love love love Courage by Claude McKay, it is great.
These are some great poems, I really like the Langston Hughes one about Dreams. It takes courage to chase your dreams. At an early age, I got exposed to situations that took courage, rock climbing, and overcoming a fear of heights. Eventually after years of doing it, I no longer had the fear. It can be intimidating, standing at the base of a giant rock/mountain, pretty much straight up, and only have a rope and some tiny pieces of metal that are supposed to save your life if you fall.
Gosh, I’m still scared of heights. Kudos!
nice choices as always. i haven’t read the wordsworth ‘character of a happy warrior’ in a long time. thanks for the deja vu.
I can relate to the shy kid thing, and being inspired to be more brave when in the prescence of more daring friends lol. I never broke a bone, though, in my adventures, luckily!
Lucky you. Hahaha
Love these poems! I needed this today so thank you for sharing.
I chose my sons name because it means courage- Caleb- thanks for sharing
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
well loved these poems they are so deep and meaningful..glad you shared this with us..great work though…
Thanks again. Appreciated
Great collection of poems. Sometimes such poems are needed to give a nudge towards the right direction.
Rudyard Kipling’s If is one of my favourite. As a lover and writer of poetry myself, it is amazing how poems can inspire people and lift their courage!
Loved your article as always. Courage plays such a crucial role in our life. In fact I have learned this from my father. Liked the poems and the video too.
This is such an empowering post. I really enjoyed reading the inspirational poems.
These are all such nice poems!
Amazing poems. I enjoyed reading every one of them for sure!!
These are some great poems! Thank you for sharing!
You are right about everything. I think my most courageous act is when I try to live on my own.
I love the poem Don’t Quit by Edgar Albert Guest. Life has its ups and downs but whatever happens don’t quit. I remind myself of that everyday.
If- by Rudyard Kipling is the poem I read during my English Graduation… Indeed, one of the best poems that I’ve ever read.
Another poem, though it’s not in this blog, I like the most is Prospice By Robert Browning. The poem has a line: “The reward of it all. I was ever a fighter, so—one fight more, The best and the last!” – Motivates me a lot whenever I go through the poem…
Anyway, thanks for compiling the list motivational poems.. Great work! 🙂
Fantastic. I like Browning too!
Thanks for the nice words and beautiful poems. Yes I also feel motivated after reading this now 🙂 – Knycx Journeying
I also follow what in the Cinderella movie said.. “have courage, and be kind.” We’ll, it works every time and I carry that mantra under my wings.
These poems really resonate me. It really takes a giant leap to be brave and have courage.
I really love these poems. Especially “If you forget me”. It’s wonderful.
Courage is the most important thing if you want to get success in life… Without courage, you will be always afraid of taking risk
Several favorite phrases here. I didn’t know where the quotes all came from though. I love Henley’s “I am the master of my fate/I am the captain of my soul.” Langston Hughes’s “Dreams” and Guest’s “Don’t Quit” have long been favorites.
Nice choices. 🙂
Everyone needs a bit of courage nowadays. It’s crazy and it’s mindboggling so any little bit will help for sure.
I say a big Amen and Amen to psalm 27. One of my greatest psalms of all time. Great post as always
Amen
Beautiful Post! Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is one of my absolute favorite poems. It is so incredibly empowering. I hadn’t ever read “Don’t Quit” by Edgar Albert Guest before reading this post, but now I am a fan of that one as well!
Rayka |
Thanks Rayka. I do like them all
It seems interesting!! I will share it with my sister.
It feels great to read motivational poems like these and watch a good video for us to inspire in everyday life. As some of us or should I say just like me who really need an inspiration for everyday to keep going .
Thank you!
I love all of these poems, but my favorite is Courage by Wilcox. Reading poems always inspires me to write a poem of my own. Pretty soon I’m hoping for a collection of poetry to publish 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I love Wilcox too
This post comes at the perfect time. I needed a bit of courage today. Thank you!
I can’t even imagine how scary it must have been to move to a new country. Even speaking the same language, it can still be a big adjustment and like you said leaving everything you’ve known, your friends, and family… that’s a big deal. It takes a massive amount of courage to make that leap and I’m so happy it seems that things are working out for you.
I really enjoyed If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda. In any relationship I think it’s important to know when to let go and when to hang on.
Beautiful… Yes, it was painful to share that one but I agree.
I am back on this page because I was intrigued by the other poems. Still I Rise by Maya Angelou has really hit me hard today, because no matter what happens I still rise and learn from anything thrown my way.
Feel free to copy it. thank you
Some lovely and much needed writing for these times. Inspiring!
I agree with the quote “the secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage”. I got a courage to change my life and face the consequence along my path, and I am glad I did because now I am feeling happy and blessed every single day.
Good for you Sis!
These poems are just wonderful – they put me in a whole different state of mind.
I love the collection of poems you have here! Still I rise is still my favorite poem of all time!
I don’t know which one I love the most from all these poems. They are all speaking to my heart as I am living in these difficult times. Thanks for sharing and reminding me to be more courageous.
That’s why I have so many, haha
Thank you for sharing these poems, many of them I’ve never heard before. I also watched the motivation video with Oprah, really inspiring to listen to hear story.
This year has been such a write off I think we all needed this motivation! I need courage now just to leave my house!
It does take a lot of courage to say yes. I loved the poem by Rudyard Kipling
Glad you enjoyed it.
Really love these quotes and I get so much positivity from this. Thanks
These are some very powerful poems. I really like the Dont Quit poem.
These are beautiful poems! Triumphant song of confidence is very close to my heart!
I love the way you have compiled all the best known poems of courage. However, i’m sure there must be many more but they might be vernacular! Among the poems mentioned by you, I liked Don’t Quit by Edgar Albert Guest, the most
Yes, it is direct and to the point.I like it too
I love all your motivating poems, they’re really deep and meaningful! Thanks or sharing them with us!
These poems sounds so lovely..glad you shared them with us…loved them..great work though..
Having courage is everything. This is definitely a trait we focus on in school. These are lovely poems and quotes.
Beautiful work, thank you
Thank you for such a great work.
An absolute opportune time for the post, Something we all need in this hour of distress!
I love that phrase: “The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage.” at the end of the day we all just want to be happy.
I find this post especially relevant now even in my own personal life. I have recently accepted a new position which is scary since I have gained comfort from my previous position but change is good. Courage is important to have to make necessary change and steps towards your goals. Thank you for this reminder and beautifully articulated post!
Wishing you much success in your job. Trust the process
I important to have courage in all we do! Without it, we would stay the same as we are now.
I find it harder to find courage as I get older. These poems are inspiring.
Interesting and true. I think I was far more courageous when I was younger
These are all so motivating. I will be bookmarking this post to come back to when I need a little boost in courage.
Thank you for sharing 🙂
tonyalee
Thanks again!
I really enjoyed this! We all need some courage, especially during these times. I am going to bookmark this so that I can check out these poems when I need some courage filled words in the future!
Thank you, dear!
Amazing story. I love watching motivational videos for this purpose. Helps to learn more about other things and be motivated.
Courage is almost a fluid virtue to me. It is strong like a wave washing over, then weak as a soft breeze. I’ve been trying to be courageous lately, but I find that I waver often.
love your point of view
It does take a lot of commitment to align yourself with something that needs to be produced quickly. I love the poem selections.
i would love to learn more about your challenge moving from the UK to the US all alone. It’s funny but I would love to do the reverse and move to the UK. I had moved as a grad student in ’14 before getting so sick i had to be flown home for care.
Ohh, my dear, it’s the classic immigrant story. The first most shocking experience was how fast Americans spoke. I could barely understand them even though English is my first language… That was a SHOCK!!!
Very nice for anyone looking for inspiration about courage, including me!
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If by Rudyard Kipling – YES! Don’t let them consume you but dreams are good to have!
still i rise poem is trylly beautiful and one of my personal favourites as well – kind regards pati robins @ style squeeze blog
courage is a very important virtue, i found this post really inspirational and loved the poems also.
These are powerful poems that will surely motivate anyone!
I love these poems they are so inspiring – particularly ‘Still I Rise’, which is one of my favourite poems… by a woman who is an inspiration to me.
The poems are really beautiful and the quotes are meaningful, thanks for sharing them with us!
Thank you for all your feedback 🙂
These are awesome poems! They sure do uplift you up after reading them.
Truth be told, this is a time like no other where we face a lot of lies and distraction from what is really important. But, “Still I Rise by Maya Angelou” still gets me and keeps me firm in my resolution to change this.
Same here
Those are all wonderful poems and they are all beautifully written too. Totally agree with your caption about courage as well.
I wrote a lot of poems too when I was younger but regret that I didn’t keep them 🙂
Oh wow with all what is going on at the moment this is a great way to motivate people that is for sure x
I always love reading your poems, they are so good.
This is such a great post, I love these poems they are so amazing!!
Your page is always so inspirational. I appreciate the work you do.
Wow Invictus gets me every time! My professor made us recite this and it always hits close to home for me!
Very inspiring poems. I think the most courageous act I’ve done recently is to admit that I need help for my depression. It feels great now that I’m taking medication for it.
Good for you!
These are really nice, took me and my wife to read it all night. Thanks for sharing dear!
I really enjoyed learning more about Invictus and loving these poems. This is so helpful to read right now.
Thank you for this! There could never be too many inspirational quotes and motivational articles
I love all your points. Great article about virtues.
I just love your compilation of poem around courage. We all need courage to tide through covid times and your post does just that! It gives me different perspectives of reminding everyone about their abilities!
I agree… we all need it
alot of people are going through difficult times in my country especially during this pandemic. ‘ll be sure to share this
This is a good read! We all need a little motivation right now!
I think that many people see courage as something very big, something extraordinary. But as you said, courage can be as simple as getting out of your comfort zone and doing something for the first time.
Yes, even getting out of bed in the morning is an act of courage.
These encouraging poems are just what I needed, thanks for sharing all these with us! These are definitely uplifting and motivating!
I really need this right now, this week has been such a huge struggle. Thank you so much.
Glad you shared such motivating and helpful one with us…great work though..
Thank you for your positive feedback always.
Sometimes reading these kind of poems can give us more courage than we have.
Motivation is great especially when we take the courage to take action.
These really resonate with me. I’m a nurse in a Covid unit and it’s a constant struggle everyday. Beautiful poems.
These are nice poems. In life, courage is a must. Learning to our fears and battling them is courage enough.
I love maya angelou and If by Rudyard kipling, great poems
I love this post. I love how encouraging many of these poems.
These are amazing poems.you sure know how to pick them.
Beautiful poems! I enjoyed it so much I can’t even tell which one I liked most
My most courageous moment i would say is leaving family back home 7years ago and moving to a new country where I do not have any friends or family. I was able to move out of my comfort zone to find a new life for myself.
I did the same thing…yes!
Your 12 quotes are very inspirational. Yeah it’s good to encourage yourself, yeah the external drive is important but it must start from the individual. Thanks for sharing
I love these poems. Poetry has a way of getting to the heart of something and bringing out the true meaning and spirit of it that regular prose sometimes can’t.
This something I need right now, I dont know until when I can hold up. These poems are really encouraging!
Thank you… yes we do
I’ve been trying to say yes to everything even when I’m uncertain!
Thank you for sharing these great poems. Having in mind the fact what’s going on right now an extra courage is all I need. I couldn’t stop reading the poems and enjoyed every word especially the one by Ella Wheeler Wilcox!
Glad it resonated with you
I need courage at this point of time and I am taking a few things from every quote you have mentioned!
Hey, you can take courage from the Ramayana too, Ambuj! I really enjoyed your post where you mentioned your friend who had never read much but remembered something from that epic spiritual story about Rama’s dharma and courage. Hahaha
Ahhh
..must say you have a sharp memory! I am not as fortunate as you to have read the Ramayana in as much detail as you have but yes…point noted
The beauty of this article is that it speaks to the very depth of your soul, it energises you and makes you feel you can always go on even at your lowest point. Thank you for sharing these wonderful poems with us.
food for thoughts… I really agree with you. Courage and freedom are must!
Courage is very much needed for any person to become better. it actually takes courage even setting mind other way.
The psalms of David are some of my favorite scriptures. thanks for including Psalm 27.
I was only familiar with one of the poems on this list and that is Still I Rise. That was a long list for me to only know one! I pinned this for more reading. Some of the words in the poems resonate so well much.
those are great poems. courage to me is standing up for myself and my kids when i don’t think i can.
Yes, happiness on this earth is really needed especially now in this situation. So you can have more opportunities and freedom to the things you love to do. You have to deal with it in a positive way whatever situation it is. Thank you for this sharing.
These are really beautiful poems. Who doesn’t wanna read something that makes us feel good! Thanks for sharing.
Courage is something that everybody wants—an attribute of good character that makes us worthy of respect. From the Bible to fairy tales; ancient myths to Hollywood movies, our culture is rich with exemplary tales of bravery and self-sacrifice for the greater good.
These are some really powerful poems!
Such an motivational post. I really need it as I am going through some stuff at the moment.
Beautiful collection of poems. I feel motivated after reading these. Appreciate your effort to bring it here.
Wow! Such a motivational blog. I am glad I came across this post. Thanks for sharing!
You found some great poems again – I especially love the Still I Rise poem 🙂
I love this post. Especially at times like this we all need support and motivation that is for sure x
I just copied this beautiful poem If by Rudyard Kipling. The words resonate to me. Sometimes, we don’t even know to go on, but we find some hidden strength that we did not know even exist within us.
You always write so motivational, this lines spoke to me. I really need these words like right now.
Thank you for always putting these lovely pieces together. I think we all need as much motivation as possible this year…;)
Very motivational! Loved all the poems especially if by Rudyard Kipling
Love these 12 poems you found for Courage. I especially love how you incorporated Psalm 27 from David. So many people forget that the Book of Psalms are really poems to inspire! I liked also Courage by Wilcox. I want familiar with Wilcox before but may have to check out more of her works.
To answer you question, no I dont believe Courage is truly or at least fully learned or in our DNA. I mean it can be a bit of both but when the chips fall, I think it is often random and accidental.
I appreciate your insights. TY
These are fantastic. I dont usually read poems but I love these.
I really needed this right now. There are some beautiful words here. I will take the time to reflect on these today
Thank you for a huge dose of encouragement, needed to hear this. 💛
Your post is so good and we fully agree with it motivational thoughts gives positivity.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful quotes. We need this words to keep going and motivated.
Still, I Rise is my absolute FAVORITE.
To push the boundaries which enables us to develop and grow, requires courage which in turn makes us the people we are today. Love the collection of poems you have assembled here – in particular Desiderata by Max Ehrmann is an old favourite that makes you stop and think. Great post, yet again.
Glad you enjoyed this post. I love poetry
Great article! I’m interested about motivation articles. Thanks for sharing!
Very well said. I really enjoyed reading this and while I’m doing that, I think I’m slowly building up my courage. I love this!
Beautiful, we can all use a bit of courage during different stages of our lives. Having beautifully written poems, quotes and support are a huge help.
these are really inspiring and motivational poems. Its a really great list!
Greatest motivation. Always share positivity like this. Spread Love Spread happiness
Courage is an important virtue. We all have it but sometimes need to dig deeper than others to find it.
What a collection!! I love the poems. Pablo Neruda was my childhood favorite. Loved the story of courage, I have to compare it with blogging and putting my writing out there. The more I did it the less afraid I was. Thank you for putting this collection together.
Thank you too!
I absolutely agree to the thought of – freedom gives thru happiness. I sometimes bless my starts to have given me such chances to live my life freely and thanks to my parents who groomed me that way.
these are trully inspiring poems – i think we all have courage , just some are a bit more affraid to show it – kind regards pati robins at style squeeze blog
These motivational poems are all we need at this point in time. The world need these to heal.
Just what I need to start my day. Thanks for putting these motivational quotes for us to read.
I love Maya Angelou! And glad to have come across all of the wonderful pieces about courage above. Just what I needed to hear. Or read rather.
Life has become so hard and difficult. Thank you for sharing this quotes of motivation. It’s a big help.
we could all use some more courage. thanks for sharing another great list of poems to live by and to encourage us to be better people. thank you.
You’ve put together quite a collection of inspirational quotes, thank you for that.
I have no idea how long it must take you to write your posts, they are always crammed full of interesting information. Thanks for sharing.
These poems are lovely! I love looking at these different types of expression to discuss a concept we all need to be reflecting on!
Great poems. I think we need it in our life to be successful in many things. I like to watch and read things about it to remind me.
This just what I needed today. Very inspiering post.
Very inspiring post. I always need courage at every point of my life. Courage or brave is when you are afraid of something but still face it.
Thank you for putting this together. At this moment I felt really down but then I was encourage by this post
Invictus hands down is one of my favorite poems!!!
Beautifully written and thanks for the positive energy and sharing. I enjoyed reading them and it’s a great boost for the day – Knycx Journeying
These poems and quotes are so gorgeous — they give me strength.
It has been a rough couple of days.I definitely needed this boost of courage.
It really pays off to be brave! There’s really nothing to fear besides fear itself.
I always look forward to your posts. They’re so inspiring, especially your last one on Mandela. You certainly didn’t disappoint with this one either!
I always love your posts. They are so inspiring and motivates me.
I will take motivation at any time, so thank you for this post! There are some lines I can pull out that speak to me.
Commitments in life are often hard to achieve, easy to give up. But there’s no better feeling than when you accomplish them. Great motivation!
Thank you for sharing these amazing motivational poems I especially love the one from Maya Angelou she is such a great person and figure thank you for this article
I love this! We need courage nowadays despite what happening right now we need to keep going to fight and motivate 🙂
It’s been a while since I last read poems, its good practice reading for me and my daughter when she was young. We did it again today because of you, thanks for sharing!
These are all really great and inspirational poems on courage. I am super grateful that God blessed me courage otherwise I would have really been backward in life.
This is really very interesting post. thanks for sharing this post.
I love reading poems and this blog post is such a nice selection of well chosen poems. Thank you !
Oprah is such an inspiration, and Maya Angelo’s Still I Rise is an amazing courage-giver. Thanks for these!!!
All these poems are inspirational to me. As we are living in this tumultuous time, we need all the strength possible to overcome our challenges. Thanks for sharing.
Great post and I like some of these poems too.
That is such an inspiring post, beautifully written. All those poems are beautiful I always enjoy reading them.
These poems are really worth reading. Truly inspirational 🙂
I love these poems. So meaningful and in-depth.
Thank you for sharing these words, they are much needed at a time like this. Inspiration drives success and self improvement.
Wow! I love all the poems. Courage is the most important virtue to succeed in life. Thanks for sharing.
This post is a collector’s item. I’ll definitely consult it whenever I need a boost of courage. Thank you.
It is always a joy to come read your posts. I always feel so happy and inspired to take on the world.
This is a beautiful collection of poems! I loved reading them.
Wow – these are amazing poems that you included, and a great video. This is a really wonderful, motivating post about courage, and I wish I had seen your post last week when I ran into a moment when I truly needed to be more courageous and needed that bit of uplifting motivation. I’m sure this motivational post will truly help others in the future too.
The Triumphant Song of Confidence – Psalm 27- A Psalm of David really got to me, especially now. I look at the world and I am so confused by the daily atrocities happening. We look around and cannot seem to find any safe refuge expect in God’s arms. Thank you for sharing.
You can actually have courage and use it everyday without noticing it. Getting out of bed and going through the day is courage it itself!
This is a wonderful collection. And inspiring also.
It was a great read ..thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this list of great poetry. Very nice and appreciated.
These are really beautivul poems, thanks for sharing
Courage is what differentiates the extraordinary from the ordinary. These are some really inspiring poems. My favourite is the one by Rudyard Kipling.
I love poetry that inspires and raises the soul. And these certainly raise the courage in people!