To see a world in a grain of sand

And heaven in a wild flower

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand

And eternity in an hour

William Blake

My grandmothers were strong

They followed ploughs and bent to toil

They moved through fields sowing seeds

They touched Earth and grain grew

They were full of sturdiness and song

My grandmothers were strong

They spun cotton into thread

On the charkha

And made cloth to dress their children

My grandmothers were strong

They milked cows and buffaloes

And boiled the milk to

Make curd and then butter

And fed the family with

Milk, butter milk and butter

They loved their families

Yes, my grandmothers were strong

Margaret Walker

[Link to the book]

I shall pass through life but once

Any good, therefore, that I can do

Or any kindness I can show

To any fellow creature

Let me do it now

let me not defer or neglect it

For I shall not pass this way again

Stephen Grellet

[Link to the book]

And your body is the harp of your soul

And it is yours to bring forth

Sweet music from it

Or confused sounds

Khalil Gibran

[Link to the book]

When someone goes out into his work

He is alive like a tree in spring

He is living, not merely working

There is no point in work

Unless it absorbs you

Like an absorbing game

If it doesn’t absorb you

If it is never fun, don’t do it!

D.H. Lawrence

[Link to the book]

The plough that cleaves the soil

Produces nurture

He that bestirs his feet

Completes the journey

A. P. Elkin

[Link to the book]

Then there is the peace of mind

At the closing of the day

That comes with easy conscience

That we have done the best we may

But the lasting kind of peace

Comes from deep within

It grows to win

A peace with life itself

That runs along life’s way

It never lets you down

But grows from day to day

Wesley Curtwright

[Link to the book]

Count no day lost

In which you waited your turn

Took your share

And sought advantage of none

Robert Brault

[Link to the book]

Question not, but live and labour

Till the goal is won

Helping every feeble neighbour

Seeking help from none

Life is mainly froth and bubble

Two things stand like stone

Kindness in another’s trouble

Courage in your own

Adam Lindsay Gordon

[Link to the book]

Become as you will be

Forget all that was

Standalone yet be not apart

Give no offense yet be not defenceless

Acquire no more than you need

And you shall survive in plenty

Till twice tomorrow you shall wait

in silence. But deaf years of all

those who turned away shall once more

hear your voice

Robert Frost

[Link to the book]