Do Not Worry

        Do not worry over trifles, though
            to you they may seem great,
        All your fretting will not help you,
            or your troubles dissipate.

        If your sky is dark and gloomy,
            and the sun is hid from view,
        Bravely smile and keep on smiling,
            And your friends will smile with you.

        Happiness is so contagious, and a
            smile is never lost;
        Then why worry over trifles, tho
            your heart seems tempest tossed.

        Therefore go on life's journey
            with an optimistic smile,
        See the world is good to live in,
            and that living is worth while.

Alan L. Strang

No biography available

Alan L. Strang

A Small Boy's Desire

Alan L. Strang, Simple Poetry

To The Reader Of This Book

Alan L. Strang, Simple Poetry

The Storm

Alan L. Strang, Simple Poetry

The Roses

Alan L. Strang, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Be not Anxious.

"Be careful for nothing," Phil. iv. 6. Revised version, "Be not anxious."


    Of all the precepts in the Book
    By word of inspiration given,
    That bear the import, tone, and look
    Of messages direct from heaven,
From Revelation back to Genesis
Is nothing needed half so much as this.

    Ah, well the great apostle spake
    In admonition wise and kind,
    Who bade humanity forsake
    The petty weaknesses that bind
The spirit like a bird with pinioned wings,
That to a broken bough despairing clings.

    Were all undue anxiety
    Eliminated from desire,
    Could feverish fears and fancies be
    Consumèd on some funeral pyre,
Like holy hecatomb or sacrifice,
'Twould be accepted up in Paradise.

    Could th...

Hattie Howard

Try a Smile.

This world's full o' trubbles fowk say, but aw daat it,
Yo'll find as mich pleasure as pain;
Some grummel at times when they might do withaat it,
An oft withaat reason complain.
A fraan on a face nivver adds to its beauty,
Then let us forget for a while
Theas small disappointments, an mak it a duty,
To try the effect ov a smile.
Though the sun may be claaded he'll shine aght agean,
If we nobbut have patience an wait,
An its sewer to luk breeter for th' shadda ther's been;
Then let's banish all fooilish consait,
If we'd nivver noa sorrow joys on us wod pall,
Soa awr hearts let us all reconcile
To tak things as they come, makkin th' best on 'em all,
An cheer up a faint heart wi' a smile.

John Hartley

Comfort

Say! You've struck a heap of trouble -
Bust in business, lost your wife;
No one cares a cent about you,
You don't care a cent for life;
Hard luck has of hope bereft you,
Health is failing, wish you'd die -
Why, you've still the sunshine left you,
And the big, blue sky.

Sky so blue it makes you wonder
If it's heaven shining through;
Earth so smiling 'way out yonder,
Sun so bright it dazzles you;
Birds a-singing, flowers a-flinging
All their fragrance on the breeze;
Dancing shadows, green, still meadows -
Don't you mope, you've still got these.

These, and none can take them from you;
These, and none can weigh their worth.
What! you're tired and broke and beaten? -
Why, you're rich - you've got the earth!
Yes, if you're a tramp in ...

Robert William Service

The World's All Right

        Be honest, kindly, simple, true;
        Seek good in all, scorn but pretence;
        Whatever sorrow come to you,
        Believe in Life's Beneficence!

    The World's all right; serene I sit,
    And cease to puzzle over it.
    There's much that's mighty strange, no doubt;
    But Nature knows what she's about;
    And in a million years or so
    We'll know more than to-day we know.
    Old Evolution's under way -
    What ho! the World's all right, I say.

    Could things be other than they are?
    All's in its place, from mote to star.
    The thistledown that flits and flies
    Could drift no hair-breadth otherwise.
    What is, must be; with rhythmic laws
    All Nature chimes, Effect and Cause.
    The sand-gra...

Robert William Service

Be Happy.

Some fowk ivverlastinly grummel,
At th' world an at th' fowk ther is in it;
If across owt 'at's pleasant they stummel,
They try to pick faults in a minnit.

We all have a strinklin o' care,
An they're lucky 'at ne'er meet a trubble,
But aw think its unkind, an unfair,
To mak ivvery misfortun seem double.

Some grummel if th' sun doesn't shine, -
If it does they find cause for complainin;
Discontented when th' weather wor fine,
They start findin fault if its rainin.

Aw hate sich dissatisfied men,
An fowk 'at's detarmined to do soa,
Aw'd mak 'em goa live bi thersen,
Aght o'th' world, - like a Robinson Crusoe.

To mak th' pleasures surraandin us less,
Ivvery reight-minded man must think sinful;
When ther's soa mich to cheer us an bl...

John Hartley

Smiles

Smile a little, smile a little,
    As you go along,
Not alone when life is pleasant,
    But when things go wrong.
Care delights to see you frowning,
    Loves to hear you sigh;
Turn a smiling face upon her,
    Quick the dame will fly.

Smile a little, smile a little,
    All along the road;
Every life must have its burden,
    Every heart its load.
Why sit down in gloom and darkness,
    With your grief to sup?
As you drink Fate's bitter tonic,
    Smile across the cup.

Smile upon the troubled pilgrims
    Whom you pass and meet;
Frowns are thorns, and smiles are blossoms
    Oft for weary feet.

Do not make the way seem harder
    By a sullen face,
Smile a little, smile a little,
    Brighten up the place....

Ella Wheeler Wilcox