Stages Poem by Hermann Hesse

Stages

Rating: 3.2


As every flower fades and as all youth
Departs, so life at every stage,
So every virtue, so our grasp of truth,
Blooms in its day and may not last forever.
Since life may summon us at every age
Be ready, heart, for parting, new endeavor,
Be ready bravely and without remorse
To find new light that old ties cannot give.
In all beginnings dwells a magic force
For guarding us and helping us to live.
Serenely let us move to distant places
And let no sentiments of home detain us.

The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us
But lifts us stage by stage to wider spaces.
If we accept a home of our own making,
Familiar habit makes for indolence.
We must prepare for parting and leave-taking
Or else remain the slave of permanence.
Even the hour of our death may send
Us speeding on to fresh and newer spaces,
And life may summon us to newer races.
So be it, heart: bid farewell without end.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Brian Taylor 06 June 2019

Great poem, The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us.

0 0 Reply
Sonia Kovitz 18 August 2018

Why isn't the original name of the poem in German provided?

0 0 Reply
Abekah Emmanuel 17 August 2014

indeed, life consists of many stages of which we must pass through to become who we want to be. We shouldnt allow anything to detain us from moving from one stage to another. Nice poem!

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Hermann Hesse

Hermann Hesse

Calw, Württemberg
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