I know it is early morning,
And hope is calling aloud,
And your heart is afire with Youth's desire
To hurry along with the crowd.
But linger a bit by the roadside,
And lend a hand by the way,
'Tis a curious fact that a generous act
Brings leisure and luck to a day.
I know it is only the noontime —
There is chance enough to be kind;
But the hours run fast when noon has passed,
r And the shadows are close behind.
So think while the light is shining,
And act ere the set of the sun,
For the sorriest woe that a soul can know
Is to think what it might have done.
I know it is almost evening,
But the twilight hour is long.
If you listen and heed each cry of need
You can right full many a wrong.
For when we have finished the journey
We will all look back and say:
'On life's long mile there was nothing worth while
But the good we did by the way.'
I am busy working to bring Ella Wheeler Wilcox's "Time Enough" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Ella Wheeler Wilcox's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Time Enough" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.