Desiderata

You are a child of the universe No less than the trees and the stars And you have a right to be here And whether or not it is clear to you No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should Therefore, be at peace with God Whatever you conceive Him to be And whatever your labors and aspirations In the noisy confusion of life Keep peace with your soul I try to be, I strive to be Oh, I wish to be happy I try to be, I strive to be Oh, I wish to be happy Oh, Desiderata Oh, Desiderata As far as possible, without surrender Be on good terms with all persons Speak your truth quietly and clearly And listen to the dull and the ignorant They too have their story Avoid loud and aggressive persons They are vexatious to the spirit If you compare yourselves with others You may become vain or bitter For always there will be greater And lesser persons than yourself Enjoy your achievements As well as your plans Keep interested in your career however humble It is a real possession In the changing fortunes of time I try to be, I strive to be Oh, I wish to be happy I try to be, I strive to be Oh, I wish to be happy Oh, Desiderata Oh, Desiderata Be yourself, especially do not feign affection Neither be cynical about love Take kindly the council of the years Gracefully surrendering the things of youth Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune But do not distress yourself with imaginings Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle to yourself With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams It is still a beautiful world I try to be, I strive to be Oh, I wish to be happy I try to be, I strive to be Oh, I wish to be happy I try to be, I strive to be Oh, I wish to be happy Oh, Desiderata Oh, Desiderata Oh, Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and the haste And remember what peace there maybe in silence