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Poem
November 21, 1821
The Hillsborough Recorder
Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
A philosophical poem questioning the purpose of life, rejecting fleeting pleasures, broken friendships, and worldly hate, and affirming that humans are formed to seek truth through reason, endure earthly woes with calm, and find a home in Heaven.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Alexandria Herald
WHAT DO WE LIVE FOR?
By allerto,
What do we live for: is it to be
The sport o' fortune's power—
To launch our barge on pleasure's sea,
And float perhaps an hour—
To waste our time in idle dreams,
Of what may be to-morrow:
To glean with care from present scenes
The source of future sorrow
What do we live for: is it to find
The ties o' friendship broken:
That love's a sound to cheat mankind
And dies as soon as spoken
To mart the woes on others hurl'd,
Nor weep the hapless lot—
To hate our fellows—curse the world—
To die and be forgot!
No, we were form'd to search for truth,
Through paths made plain by reason,
To have that light in earliest youth,
Which shine, in every season:
Yea! we were made to win below,
The boon hereafter given,
To calm by smile at earthly woe,
And find a home in Heaven.
WHAT DO WE LIVE FOR?
By allerto,
What do we live for: is it to be
The sport o' fortune's power—
To launch our barge on pleasure's sea,
And float perhaps an hour—
To waste our time in idle dreams,
Of what may be to-morrow:
To glean with care from present scenes
The source of future sorrow
What do we live for: is it to find
The ties o' friendship broken:
That love's a sound to cheat mankind
And dies as soon as spoken
To mart the woes on others hurl'd,
Nor weep the hapless lot—
To hate our fellows—curse the world—
To die and be forgot!
No, we were form'd to search for truth,
Through paths made plain by reason,
To have that light in earliest youth,
Which shine, in every season:
Yea! we were made to win below,
The boon hereafter given,
To calm by smile at earthly woe,
And find a home in Heaven.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Hymn
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Life Purpose
Truth Reason
Heavenly Reward
Earthly Woe
Friendship Broken
Pleasure Sea
What entities or persons were involved?
By Allerto
Poem Details
Title
What Do We Live For?
Author
By Allerto
Subject
Philosophical Reflection On The Purpose Of Life
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Abab Scheme
Key Lines
No, We Were Form'd To Search For Truth,
Through Paths Made Plain By Reason,
To Calm By Smile At Earthly Woe,
And Find A Home In Heaven.