Poem “Mistakes” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Poems of reflection

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American Literature – American Poetry – Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Poems of reflection
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Mistakes

My life is full of sad mistakes,–
  Today I was thinking about them,
And thinking of all that I might have been
  If I had but lived without them.
So many times have I laid my plan,
  Only to spoil it in doing;
And much of the work that the world calls good
  Has left me cause for rueing.

Each thing that I do is like the page
  Of a hurriedly written letter;–
Full of good thoughts perhaps, but the blots
  Prove that it might be better.
I have wished for the world’s applause, and thought
  To make it praise and wonder,
But my noblest aim and best laid plan
  Was sure to be spoiled by a blunder.

I think I have lived too far from God,–
  Not that I ever doubt Him,
But feeling too sure of my strength, I’ve tried
  To do some things without Him.
And so we shall always make mistakes,
  And always our errors be rueing,
Until we reach up for the Guiding Hand,
  Whatever we may be doing.

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American Literature – American Poetry – Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Poems of reflection

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Poems of reflection

Mistakes

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