Life — Henry Van Dyke
Class: 10th Standard | Subject: General English | Type: Poem (Sonnet)
About the Poet
Henry Van Dyke (1852–1933) was an American author, poet, educator, and clergyman. He served as a professor of English literature at Princeton University between 1899 and 1923. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received many other honours.
The Poem
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.
Summary
The poem "Life" is a Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet consisting of 14 lines divided into an octave (first 8 lines) and a sestet (last 6 lines). The poet expresses his desire to live life with optimism, courage, and a forward-looking attitude.
In the octave, the poet wishes to live each year with a willing spirit — not rushing toward goals nor running away from them. He chooses not to grieve over things lost in the past, nor to fear what the future may hold. Instead, he wants to face both youth and old age with a cheerful heart.
In the sestet, the poet declares that whether life's path goes uphill or downhill, rough or smooth, the journey itself will be a joy. He continues to seek the same things he desired as a boy — friendship, adventure, and achievement. He maintains the courage to pursue his quest and hopes that the final phase of his life will be the best.
Form and Structure
- Type: Petrarchan Sonnet (14 lines)
- Meter: Iambic Pentameter (10 syllables per line, accented on every second beat)
- Octave (Lines 1–8): Rhyme scheme — ABBAABBA
- Sestet (Lines 9–14): Rhyme scheme — CDCDCD
- Tone: Optimistic, hopeful, courageous
Glossary
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mourning | verb | feeling or expressing great sadness |
| veils | verb | to hide or cover something so that you cannot see it clearly |
| crown | noun | a prize or position offered for being the best |
| quest | noun | a long search for something that is difficult to find |
| unreluctant | adjective | willing to do something (coined by the poet for emphasis) |
| toll | noun | a charge or price paid for something |
| dim | adjective | not bright; fading from memory |
Literary Devices
- Metaphor: Life is compared to a journey on a road with hills and turns — "So let the way wind up the hill or down"
- Personification: The future is personified as something that "veils" (hides things)
- Alliteration: "forward face" (repetition of 'f' sound)
- Enjambment: Sentences run across multiple lines without pause — "nor holding back in fear / From what the future veils"
- Synecdoche: "heart" represents the poet's entire being — "My heart will keep the courage"
Themes
- Optimism and Positive Attitude: The poet advocates living with hope rather than regret or fear.
- Acceptance of Life's Journey: Whether life is rough or smooth, uphill or downhill, the journey itself is joyful.
- Courage and Quest: The heart must remain brave and continue seeking friendship, adventure, and achievement.
- Living in the Present: Not mourning the past nor fearing the future — embracing each moment with cheer.