WHAT I LIVE FOR
“What
I live For” is an inspirational poem written by George Linnaeus Banks
(1821-1881). He was a British journalist, editor, playwright, amateur actor,
and orator. Surprisingly enough, there
is no mention about him in the popular histories of English literature.
However, his above-mentioned poem is included in all the anthologies of best loved
poems.
It
is really worthwhile to read his poem and get inspired by its contents. The question “What I Live For” is relevant for
all of us. We must know what we are supposed to do in this world. There is no
book in the whole world which expresses the purpose of our life as conceived by
God Almighty. George Linnaeus Banks enlightens us about that purpose.
Given
below are George’s brief answers to the questions “What I Live For :
*I live for those that love me, for
those I know are true, for heaven that smiles above me, and waits my spirit ,
too.
*I live to learn their story who have
suffered for my sake, to emulate their glory, and follow in their wake; bards,
patriots, martyrs, sages, the noble of all ages, whose deeds crown history’s pages,
and Time’s great volume make.
*I live to hold communion with all
that is divine, to feel there is a union betwixt nature’s heart and mine.
*I live to hold that season by gifted
minds foretold, when men shall rule by reason, and not alone by gold; when man
to man united, and every wrong thing righted ,the whole world shall be lighted
as Eden was of old.
*I live for those who love me, whose
hearts are kind and true, for heaven that smiles above me, and waits my spirit
too; for the cause that lacks assistance, for the wrong that needs resistance,
for the future in the distance, and the good that I can do.
To
sum up , the purpose of everybody’s life
should be to do the good that he can do and make this world strive towards a
future where reason and compassion will prevail.
********
G.R.Kanwal
8th July 2025
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