110 words of pure wisdom! It is interesting that the author of The Measure of a Man is unknown/anonymous. Was this poem a gift to others without the need or expectation of anything in return? As shared in “The Volunteer Wellness Effect”, the secret sauce of giving is to serve as if no one is watching; to come and go without the need for anyone to know you were there. The higher your serving consciousness (in other words, the less your ego is involved), the greater the wellness effect for others…and for you.
The Measure of a Man
Author Unknown/Anonymous
Not “How did he die?” But “How did he live?”
Not “What did he gain?” But “What did he give?”
Not “What was his station?” But “Had he a heart?”
And “How did he play his God-given part?”
Not “What was his shrine?” Nor “What was his creed?”
But “Had he befriended those really in need?”
Not “What did the piece in the newspaper say?”
But “How many were sorry when he passed away?”
Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth
How do you walk through life? What do you measure and how do you measure up?
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photo credit: steven harris
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JD –
As always you rock! Always writing stuff that resonates at exactly the time when you need to read something like that.
Thank you Ryan- glad you liked it and glad the timing is perfect for you…it was perfect for me too.
Hey Jo-Ann – loved that peom! Positive, philosophical and artistic in equal measures. It reminds me a little of the poem “if” by Rudyard Kipling.
Thank you Derek – I am going to read “if” again! Perhaps others will too- thanks for the recommendation.
The poem was written by my grandfather, Walter E. Isenhour. He was a Methodist minister in North Carolina, born 1895, died 1976. He wrote several books of poetry.
Maybe, one of the better lessons in LIFE
Yes, a beautiful and timeless poem
2011 was the single worst year of my life. (I’m in my mid forties) Certain events led me to question, not only IF I could go on in this life, but did I even have the WILL to survive and thive. “Did I want to continue to live my life as I had always known?” Beaten down, really NOTHING left, I woke up one morning and just a month ago and wrote the word “Give”. Still not 100% convinced until this very moment !! An amazing person, a friend, told me of a beautiful poem his Mom read to him growing up. Yes, “The measure of a Man”, was the poem. I had shared my many issues and sorrows with him, my lack of love for myself and so on. However as I see it today, I’m talking like right NOW !! This is my crossroad. Yes, my “stuff” was real, is real, but I have not been dealing with it. Which has lead me to this point. My total disrespect for this life, my health and my soul. That is where I have taken it. But it appears that thanks to my Higher Power and my Mom, whom I now call my guardian Angel. She passed May 21st, 2011, I was now able to hear the words of my friend. That he and many others loved me just the way I am and to read this poem. He said, ” I measured up just fine, that I am an amazing man.” So YES the measure of a man, I do believe it is the high time to do just that.
Thanks SO much for letting me share.