Memoirs of Childhood

Found Poem

By Lienda Little

Force and life remains forever inexplicable to us.

In its essence dreaming about the thousand wonders

that surround us, a special enigma the mysterious

The eye needs an inspiring distance

to turn its outward vision inward.

Share in the burden of pain that oppresses the world.

deeply stirred by the suffering in the world around us

Deepest feeling of happiness to help alleviate

the suffering of others, we must not live our lives for

ourselves alone.

The power of ideals is incalculable.

In the idealism of his youth, faith in the power of kindness

man has vision of the truth, ideals are thoughts

Apply their ideals to the world.

All ordinary force limits itself.

Look for the ultimate reason for everything in themselves.

effective as their inner perfection allows

All reality derives from spiritual power.

Definition of Found Poem:  Scattered phrases from the text of a book are chosen and placed together in order to construct the poem.  These particular phrases are from Albert Schweitzer’s Memoirs of Childhood and Youth.

Photograph povided by Ms. Sheila Silver as a gift to the Albert Schweitzer Institute.