Not How Long Will I Live, But How Well

I’ve mentioned before that I’m very blessed to come from a family of writers.  Many of my ancestors kept journals that give me and others of their posterity a cherished insight into their lives, their feelings, their trials, their triumphs and their faith.  I have a few copies of these journals on my shelf, and I love to thumb through them and close my eyes and imagine my Great Grandmother, Mary Adeline Johnson Haws penning her beautiful thoughts that I am currently reading. 

Mary kept a very different kind of journal.  She was a poet, so what I have of hers is a book of poetry.  Many of her life experiences and feelings were written in this format rather than a formal journal… at least I don’t know of one that she has written as of now.  

Tonight I was reading a few of her poems, many I’m sure I will share here later, but this one really touched my heart tonight.  She writes so beautifully of things that I’ve often thought about, and added a few more things that I should think more about.

Not How Long

Not how long will I live, but how well,

And what have I done today?

Have I planted a mem’ry in somebody’s face?

To be cherished and kept always?

Have I brought a smile to somebody’s face?

Have I dried somebody’s tears?

Have I planted a thought in somebody’s mind

That will help him through the years?

Have I made a friend of somebody’s child?

Was I kind to somebody old?

Have I shared someone’s sorrow, and somebody’s joy?

Have I listened to tales twice told?

Have I done the things that I promised to?

Have I lightened somebody’s load?

Have I helped someone to see right from wrong

As he faltered along life’s road?

Now how long will I live, but how well,

And what have I learned today?

Have I learned to bridle an angry tongue?

Am I stronger in any way?

Have I learned to respect another’s rights;

Another’s viewpoint to see?

Have I gleaned a thought from somebody else

That will make life richer for me?

Did I stare temptation in the face

With a clear and steady eye?

Did I stoop to cheat or pilfer?

Did I scorn to tell a lie?

Did I do aught that made me feel

That I am weak or mean?

If aught I did – then help me God

To live so I’ll be clean.

How well have I lived?  Who can tell?

For today I may not know,

And it may be months or years from now

That the fruits of today will show.

But when I have finished, will there be friends –

Some friends their love to tell?

If there are, it won’t be for the years and the days –

Not how long I lived ---- But how well.

Adeline J. Haws

(Featured in 1946 & 1947 Mesa, Arizona Cactus Cuttings)