The Summer of Not Much Fun

Solitude

BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

    Weep, and you weep alone;

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

    But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

    Sigh, it is lost on the air;

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

    But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

    Grieve, and they turn and go;

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

    But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

    Be sad, and you lose them all,—

There are none to decline your nectared wine,

    But alone you must drink life’s gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

    Fast, and the world goes by.

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

    But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

    For a large and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

    Through the narrow aisles of pain.

Comments

[Big Alice]

I'm sorry you've had a crappy summer. I've been terrible about keeping in touch. I hope your Fall prospects are looking better. Maybe we can meetup sometime?

[Melanie]

sorry to hear about your summer, Carrie. I don't actually know anyone who had a good one... hoping for better times - m

[Lorraine]

Carrie- Summer kind of was a downer this year- but things will get better, you'll see.

[Cheryl S.]

I'm sorry it was such a bad year. xoxoxo

[Stefanie]

So sorry things haven't gone well. I hope it is getting better.

[Chris]

:( Here's hoping things improve for you. :(

[marylou]

Warm wishes for a better Autumn. I have never read the rest of that poem. My mother used to recite the first part to me.

[Angie]

Such a sad poem but (often) so true. Hugs.

[Twinkle62]

OK you made me cry :(
But I do love that poem and you!