Have you ever needed words that remind you of your own strength when life feels overwhelming?
Turning to poetry can give you the encouragement you need through powerful words and lines that echo your own struggles and triumphs.
Here are 10 ouching inspirational life poems—each one carefully chosen for women who push through setbacks, hold onto hope, and never let go of their dreams.
Let’s dive in!
My favorite inspirational life poem for tenacious women
#1 “Life Is Jolly” by William Henry Davies
This life is jolly, O!
I envy no man’s lot;
My eyes can much admire,
And still my heart crave not;
There’s no true joy in gold,
It breeds desire for more;
Whatever wealth man has,
Desire can keep him poor.
This life is jolly, O!
Power has his fawning slaves,
But if he rests his mind,
Those wretches turn bold knaves.
Fame’s field is full of flowers,
It dazzles as we pass,
But men who walk that field
Starve for the common grass.
This life is jolly, O!
Let others know they die,
Enough to know I live,
And make no question why;
I care not whence I came,
Nor whither I shall go;
Let others think of these—
This life is jolly, O!
Do you ever feel weighed down by expectations or the endless search for “more” in life?
“Life Is Jolly” by William Henry Davies is my top choice because it celebrates the simple joys of living and reminds me that happiness isn’t found in wealth, power, or fame.
This poem encourages a tenacious spirit by showing the strength it takes to let go of comparison, embrace what you already have, and live fully in the present moment.
9 more inspirational life poems for tenacious women
#2 “Life” by Henry Van Dyke
Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
Not hurrying to, nor turning from, the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole
And happy heart, that pays its toll
To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.
So let the way wind up the hill or down,
O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,
My heart will keep the courage of the quest,
And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.
#3 “The Optimist” by J. W. Hammond
Who would have the sky any color but blue,
Or the grass any color but green?
Or the flowers that bloom the summer through
Of other color or sheen?
How the sunshine gladdens the human heart—
How the sound of the falling rain
Will cause the tender tears to start,
And free the soul from pain.
Oh, this old world is a great old place!
And I love each season’s change,
The river, the brook of purling grace,
The valley, the mountain range.
And when I am called to quit this life,
My feet will not spurn the sod,
Though I leave this world with its beauty rife,—
There’s a glorious one with God!
#4 “The Rising Moon” by Peabody
The moon is up! How calm and slow
She wheels above the hill!
The weary winds forget to blow,
And all the world lies still.
The way-worn travellers with delight
The rising brightness see,
Revealing all the paths and plains,
And gilding every tree.
It glistens where the hurrying stream
Its little ripple leaves;
It falls upon the forest shade,
And sparkles on the leaves.
Lo, once, on Judah’s evening hills,
The heavenly lustre spread;
The Gospel sounded from the blaze,
And shepherds gazed with dread.
And still that light upon the world
Its guiding splendour throws;
Bright in the opening hours of life,
But brighter at the close.
The waning moon, in time, shall fail
To walk the midnight skies;
But God hath warmed this bright light
With fire that never dies.
#5 “Be Strong” by Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift,
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle; face it. ‘Tis God’s gift.
Be strong!
Say not the days are evil, — Who’s to blame?
And fold not the hands and acquiesce, — O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day, how long.
Faint not, fight on! To-morrow comes the song.
#6 “To My Heart, Bidding It Have No Fear” by William Butler Yeats
Be you still, be you still, trembling heart;
Remember the wisdom out of the old days:
Him who trembles before the flame and the flood,
And the winds that blow through the starry ways,
Let the starry winds and the flame and the flood
Cover over and hide, for he has no part
With the proud, majestical multitude.
#7 “The Year” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That’s not been said a thousand times?
The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.
We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.
We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that’s the burden of the year.
#8 “Go Give the World” by Otto Leland Bohanan
I do not crave to have thee mine alone, dear
Keeping thy charms within my jealous sight;
Go, give the world the blessing of thy beauty,
That other hearts may share of my delight!
I do not ask, thy love should be mine only
While others falter through the dreary night;
Go, kiss the tears from some wayfarer’s vision,
That other eyes may know the joy of light!
Where days are sad and skies are hung with darkness,
Go, send a smile that sunshine may be rife;
Go, give a song, a word of kindly greeting,
To ease the sorrow of some lonely life!
#9 “I’ll Try” by Anonymous
“The others will laugh,” said the Bugbear,
“And ridicule you on the sly.”
“Never mind,” said Jenny Endeavor,
“I’ll try.”
“You’ll surely break down.” said the Bugbear;
“You know you are terribly shy.”
“Never mind,” said Billy Endeavor,
“I’ll try.”
“It’s really too hard,” said the Bugbear;
“You might as well venture to fly.”
“Never mind,” said Susie Endeavor,
“I’ll try.”
“Just put the thing off,” said the Bugbear.
“And others the lack will supply.”
“I’ll not,” answered Tommy Endeavor,
“I’ll try.”
#10 “A Song” by Lucretia Maria Davidson
Life is but a troubled ocean,
Hope a meteor, love a flower
Which blossoms in the morning beam,
And whithers with the evening hour.
Ambition is a dizzy height,
And glory, but a lightning gleam;
Fame is a bubble, dazzling bright,
Which fairest shines in fortune’s beam.
When clouds and darkness veil the skies,
And sorrow’s blast blows loud and chill,
Friendship shall like a rainbow rise,
And softly whisper—peace, be still.