Courage by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the idea that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the willingness to act in spite of it. It describes a person who is paralyzed by fear, but finds the strength to overcome their anxieties and take action. The poem suggests that courage is a quality that can be developed through determination and perseverance, and that it is often the quiet, unassuming individuals who possess the most courage.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1914 · Genre: Poetry, Inspirational, Philosophical · 242 words
First lines
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.
What this Textopian page supports
Courage is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1914 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Inspirational, Philosophical, Spiritual
- Length: 242 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Courage by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
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- Strength by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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- Be Not Dismayed by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Obstacles by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Inspirational — The themes focus on resilience, hope, and the strength of the human spirit.
- Philosophical — The work explores existential themes and the individual's place in the universe.
- Spiritual — The text references a 'Great Central' and discusses faith and the soul's journey.
Tags
Inspiration · Motivation · Poetry · Self-Help · Personal Growth · Empowerment · Confidence · Resilience · Overcoming Fear · Perseverance · Mindfulness · Wellness