Life – Henry Van Dyke
Let me but live my life from year to year, With forward face and unreluctant soul; Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal; Not mourning for the things that disappear In the dim past, nor holding back in fear From what the future veils; but with a whole And happy heart, that pays its toll To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer. So let the way wind up the hill or down, O'er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy: Still seeking what I sought when but a boy, New friendship, high adventure, and a crown, My heart will keep the courage of the quest, And hope the road's last turn will be the best.
It Means:
unreluctant – தயக்கம் இல்லை
veils – முக்காடு
quest – தேடல்
Glossary
mourning (v) – feeling or expressing great sadness
veils (v) – to hide or cover something so that you cannot see it clearly or understand it
crown (n) – a prize or position offered for being the best
quest (n) – a long search for something that is difficult to find
unreluctant* (adj.) – willing to do something (*This form is generally not used but the poet has coined it for emphasis)
About the Poet
Henry Van Dyke (1852 – 1933) was an American author, poet, educator, and clergyman. He served as a professor of English literature at Princeton University between 1899 and 1923. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received many other honours.
Sonnet
The word sonnet is derived from the Italian word “sonetto,” which means a ‘little song’ or ‘small lyric’. In poetry, a sonnet has 14 lines, and is written in ‘iambic pentameter’ (A line with ten syllables, accented on every second beat). The first eight lines of a sonnet is known as “octave” and the last six lines is known as “sestet”. Sonnets can be categorized on the basis of their rhyme scheme.