Sitting on beach
Terri Webster Schrandt

Desiderata–You Are a Child of the Universe

Sitting on beach
Child of the Universe

Happy Saturday and last day of February, 2015! I had to share this post again with this back story.

I had some business on my university campus last summer and as I stood in line, a young woman in front of me sported a tattoo with some of the words from this poem: “You are a child of the universe…” Both our jaws dropped when I asked her if this was from Desiderata, then finished the sentence, “…no less than the trees and the stars…” I was surprised I remembered it.

She must have picked up the poem from her parents, so much so that she dedicated those words onto her shoulder and upper arm. Truly a throwback to the seventies!

If you were around in the 1970s, this poem was so popular it became a  song on the radio. If you were a hippie in the 1970s this was also on your 8-track.

Read this, it is as meaningful today as it was in the 70s, and as it was when it was originally written (1920s). The Latin for Desiderata means “desired things.”

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
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 in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

 Author – Max Ehrmann (1872 – 1945)

Note: Due to copyright infringement issues, I have recently deleted several stanzas of the poem. Please google Desiderata poem for the words.

920130_4922633056253_2050312518_o

About this poem:

Desiderata was apparently written between 1906 & 1920 by Max Ehrmann (1872-1945) who copyrighted the piece in 1927. The confusion about authorship of this poem is due to its distribution by Reverend Frederick Kates within a collection of works for his congregation in 1959.  The church notepaper was headed “The Old St Paul’s Church, Baltimore, AD 1692”. As the poem became more widely circulated, it came to be assumed that the poem originated in this old church which was founded in 1692.

Discover more from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives

Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.

38 comments

  2. Thanks for reminding me about Desiderata! I’d come across it recently and it affected me so deeply… It’s so powerful and amazing how it was written long ago but still relevant to today’s society!
    Thanks for this great post !

    Liked by 1 person

  4. One of my all time favourites. I got it in a beautiful parchment scroll from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London over 30 years ago. Very profound and ‘centering’ poem relevant for all ages . Thanks for sharing. .

    Liked by 1 person

    • I don’t know why this struck me yesterday as I was surfing through blogs. Another blogger had posted some pics of a beautiful girl and I thought I saw “child of the universe” written in there somewhere. Aha! Desiderata! Enjoy! I’ve been humming the song all night 🙂

      Like

  5. Sometime in early elementary school this poem was used as part of holiday presentation. I had to memorize the “If you compare yourself to others” stanza, and then stand up in front of all the other kids and parents and recite it. I was very shy, and scared to talk in front of others. I did it, didn’t forget anything, and felt good when it was done. Thanks for reminding me of that, and putting a smile on my face!

    Like

  9. Yes, I remember this (from those times…). I even remember a parody version offered by National Lampoon. It was a good reminder to “Strive to be Happy”.
    I remember something about “Hairy thunderer or cosmic muffin” and “Take heart amid the deepening gloom that your dog is finally getting enough cheese.”
    Lightly,
    Vincent

    Like

  10. Enjoyed revisiting desiderata , which I first sighted over a decade ago when a friend conveyed it to me as a farewell message . the lines are almost prayer-like , edifying and uplifting the spirit….best wishes…raj

    Like

  13. I remember this well although I’m more a child of the 60s than the 70s. I became part of the hippie culture not by age but by participation! hahahaha… guess I still am. Thanks for the post. I hadn’t seen the poem in a long time.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I have always loved this it has always had the effect of quietening my mind and tongue and helps me to focus on the amazing gifts found in silence, must make sure to read it more often so happy to have come across this again here. Kind regards Kathy.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. My niece (a neo-hippy) is in a horrible relationship. I think much of the problem has stemmed from abysmal self-esteem, believing someone has to rescue her, not understanding how important it is for her to rescue herself. I made her a journal and wrote one line of this on every other page and gave her directions for reflecting on the line at the top of the page. To my great surprise (and happiness!) it seems to be helping her wake up to the fact that she is a valuable person and needs to take action to protect herself and her future. I don’t even like it that much, honestly. It became so cliché back in the day. Still that does not diminish its usefulness or power or truth.

    Liked by 1 person

    • That was a great idea for a journal. So many of the verses help me with random things even 40 years later. I would recall one line “gracefully surrendering the things of youth” as I got older to discard old toys, etc. Very freeing. Thanks for your comment!

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Maybe this song didn’t get much air time in 1970s Arkansas? Portions of it seemed familiar, but I had never heard the whole thing until now; much wisdom here. (I love your new Profile picture, by the way!)

    Liked by 1 person

  24. A wonderful poem, one I memorized in college as did most of my friends. We young hippie activists felt ourselves to be children of the universe. I can no longer recite the entire poem by heart but always recognize passages. It’s timeless in its message.

    BTW, because Max Ehrmann gave it as a gift to Rev. Kates who published it, but his family wanted its copyright honored, its proprietary rights have been argued in the courts. It was finally declared to be in the public domain. It’s unfortunate that something so meaningful became the center of a legal dispute for many years.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.