“A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a poem that I think should feature in any list of the most inspiring poems in the language. This is a poem that tells us not to wait for anything to happen, but explore the limitless possibilities we come across in our life and lead an active life that would fetch us pleasure as well as success.

Again, in “A Psalm of Life”, the poet Longfellow does not take this life lightly. This life is not an empty dream to him. Rather it should be full of action towards our goal. This life is not long enough to spend sleeping or sitting idly. “Art is long, and time is fleeting” conveys the length of the works given to us. So the poet wants us to act wisely and wait with patience for the rewards.

Thus, this is one of those poems that deliver a strong wave of inspiration to us. It rejuvenates us to work with fresh energy every time we read the poem.