Inspirational Poems

It is often said that what you achieve in life is 70% hard work, 20% inspiration and 10% luck. There may be differing views though. Everyone may not assign the three aspects in the respective percentages mentioned. Irrespective of the success rate each determines, inspirational poems have always been a driving force for many.

Inspirational poems help you to see light at the end of the tunnel
Since the world is getting complex and there is increase in competition in all spheres of life, there are chances that you may get dejected and disappointed if you meet failure. But inspirational poems can help you to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Inspirational poems can make a limping person cross mountains and undertake the toughest of jobs. It all lies in the state of the mind. An inspirational poem can help people of all age groups to derive benefits. While kids may not be able to read these poems but they can be a part of the inspirational poems if you read out these poems to them or explain it in a story format. However, an inspirational poem written for a child will be different from a poem that is written for an adult.

Of late, there are many companies where motivation as well as inspirational classes is held at workplaces to boost self confidence among employees. So, you will find many such companies that use inspirational poems to do the same.

Few lines from one such inspirational poem that teaches us about life is as follows. This poem has been written by Rainer Maria Rilke. The name of this poem is "God Speaks to each of Us"

"Driven by your senses, dare
To the edge of longing, Grow
Like a fire's shadowcasing glare
Behind assembled things, so you can spread
Their shapes on me as clothes,
Don't leave me bare"

Inspirational poems- A powerful tool of motivation
Inspirational poems have been written by reputed poets and these poems have served as a source of inspiration. Whether it is a poem motivating soldiers to win a battle, or inspiring a student to do well in the exam, these poems have undoubtedly motivated many people to fulfill their responsibilities and attain their mission. Some of the well known poems that have inspired people down the years include the following -

• A Prayer in Time of War written by Alfred Noyes
• Fire and Ice by Robert Frost
• Hymn to Adversity written by Thomas Gray
• Where the Mind is Without Fear written by renowned Rabindranath Tagore
• Free - an inspirational poem written by Eugene O'Neil
• Contentment by Oliver Wendell Holmes

Inspirational poems help you to achieve your goals
Inspirational poems can work wonders for all. Every individual has a vision in life. And if he finds himself getting deviated from his goals, an inspirational poem can help him to get back on the track. It can benefit a student, a teacher, doctor, children, worker etc. So, inspirational poems can help you to achieve your goals and live a better life.

Contentment poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes

Contentment
"Man wants but little here below"

Little I ask; my wants are few;
I only wish a hut of stone,
(A very plain brown stone will do,)
That I may call my own;
And close at hand is such a one,
In yonder street that fronts the sun.

Plain food is quite enough for me;
Three courses are as good as ten;
If Nature can subsist on three,
Thank Heaven for three. Amen!
I always thought cold victual nice;
My choice would be vanilla-ice.

I care not much for gold or land;
Give me a mortgage here and there,
Some good bank-stock, some note of hand,
Or trifling railroad share,
I only ask that Fortune send
A little more than I shall spend.

Honors are silly toys, I know,
And titles are but empty names;
I would, perhaps, be Plenipo,
But only near St. James;
I'm very sure I should not care
To fill our Gubernator's chair.

Jewels are baubles; 't is a sin
To care for such unfruitful things;
One good-sized diamond in a pin,
Some, not so large, in rings,
A ruby, and a pearl, or so,
Will do for me; - I laugh at show.

My dame should dress in cheap attire;
(Good, heavy silks are never dear;)
I own perhaps I might desire
Some shawls of true Cashmere,
Some marrowy crapes of China silk,
Like wrinkled skins on scalded milk.

I would not have the horse I drive
So fast that folks must stop and stare;
An easy gait - two forty-five
Suits me; I do not care;
Perhaps, for just a single spurt,
Some seconds less would do no hurt.

Of pictures, I should like to own
Titians and Raphaels three or four,
I love so much their style and tone,
One Turner, and no more,
(A landscape, - foreground golden dirt,
The sunshine painted with a squirt.)

Of books but few, - some fifty score
For daily use, and bound for wear;
The rest upon an upper floor;
Some little luxury there
Of red morocco's gilded gleam
And vellum rich as country cream.

Busts, cameos, gems, such things as these,
Which others often show for pride,
I value for their power to please,
And selfish churls deride;
One Stradivarius, I confess,
Two Meerschaums, I would fain possess.

Wealth's wasteful tricks I will not learn,
Nor ape the glittering upstart fool;
Shall not carved tables serve my turn,
But all must be of buhl?
Give grasping pomp its double share,
I ask but one recumbent chair.

Thus humble let me live and die,
Nor long for Midas' golden touch;
If Heaven more generous gifts deny,
I shall not miss them much,
Too grateful for the blessing lent
Of simple tastes and mind content!