The world is cold and hard and dark enough;
We need not cloud it with our own despair.
And it is furnished, too, with joyous stuff,
And you may find a blessing anywhere
You turn your eyes, if they are opened wide—
The windows of an optimistic mind.
Pay little heed to pessimists who chide;
The things you look for are the things you’ll find!
And when you find a treasure, do not rest—
That which you cherish most, you may yet be.
And of such blessings, surely this is best:
To light a fire by which your brothers see!
So be resolved, once you have seen the light,
To be a candle shining in the night.
Jul 5, 2025
Jul 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM UTC
The world is cold and hard and dark enough;
We need not cloud it with our own despair.
And it is furnished, too, with joyous stuff,
And you may find a blessing anywhere
You turn your eyes, if they are opened wide—
The windows of an optimistic mind.
Pay little heed to pessimists who chide;
The things you look for are the things you’ll find!
And when you find a treasure, do not rest—
That which you cherish most, you may yet be.
And of such blessings, surely this is best:
To light a fire by which your brothers see!
So be resolved, once you have seen the light,
To be a candle shining in the night.
To the Class of 2025
Request permission to use this poem