"Prayer" by Louis Untermeyer (poetry reading)

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." said Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Psychologists have observed a trait in those who strive for greatness - they call it "dysthymia" - a perpetual discontent.

It's not exactly depression or melancholia but a yearning that can never be completely fulfilled. It seems that to be satisfying life has to be progressive - but for some it has to be more progressive than for others. There's only one moral way to get rich and that comes from providing benefits for other people. So the progress of mankind depends on discontent. The contented man isn't motivated to dig more land than he needs to in order to survive. As the cynic remarked, "What use is happiness? You can't take it to the bank and get money for it."

"Good Health and Good Fortune" by Francesco Vinea (1845-1902)
"Struggle for Balance" by Joel Carson Jones, born 1975.
http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/artist.php?artistid=6605

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[kate285]

Wonderful words!!! Read Beautifully!!! Thankyou so much!!!

Kate

[scifiwritir]

A good one! One of my first poetry collections as a kid was edited by Louis U. I didn't even know he wrote poetry. Listening to this poem I think..."is this a guy after my own heart? or did his choice of poems make my youthful and adult heart?" -C

[liz1060]

"Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries” John Lothrop Motley ... I can struggle and strive when needed but I have no illusions that I prefer it -- give me a cozy, comfortable contentment and you may have all the greatness in the world.

[thissong4you]

"From compromise and things half done, keep me from stern and stubborn pride." Untermeyer and Tennyson and in such close proximity? Do I detect a theme? "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield". But it's Sunday morning! May I wait until tomorrow? Everything in moderation, even moderation. I think today I shall open my ears to music. Lovely reading, Tom.

[Imagimontana]

Good prayer to hear on a Sunday morning. Many thanks.