Life’s Mirror
May 27, 2021
While listening to a podcast this evening, I came across a reference to a lovely poem that was supposed to have been penned by one Emma Wheeler Wilcox. Fascinated by the few lines of the poem that the speaker read aloud in the podcast, I checked on Wikipedia for Emma Wheeler Wilcox and the full version of the poem.
Strangely I could not locate this poem anywhere in the anthology of poems ascribed to Emma Wheeler.
I then worked backward from the few lines that the author recited in the podcast to google for who actually wrote the beautiful poem that so touched me. After some effort, I was able to trace the poem to Mary Ainge de Vere(1844-1920), who wrote this poem under the pen name of Madeline.S.Bridges.
I am not much into poetry, but I could not resist being captivated by the beautiful words and the gist of the poem.
This poem captures the principle that the life we experience is a reflection of our thoughts and deeds. Give the world the best you have, And the best will come back to you. This is the essence of Life’s Mirror.
Enjoy the Poem.
LIFE’S MIRROR
There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave, There are souls that are pure and true, Then give to the world the best you have, And the best will come back to you.
Give love, and love to your life will flow, A strength in your utmost need, Have faith, and a score of hearts will show, Their faith in your word and deed.
Give truth, and your gift will be paid in kind; And honor will honor meet; And a smile that is sweet will surely find A smile that is just as sweet.
Give pity and sorrow to those who mourn You will gather in flowers again The scattered seeds from your thoughts out borne Though the sowing seemed but vain.
For life is the mirror of king and slave, ‘Tis just what we are and do; Then give to the world the best you have, And the best will come back to you.
