A TRIBUTE TO ELLA WHEELER br WILCOX (1850-1919) br She was an American poet who was best known br for her ‘Poems of Passion’. But her most enduring br work is her poem – ‘SOLITUDE’, which has been br presented below for the benefit of the readers. br br SOLITUDE br Laugh and the world laughs with you; br Weep and you weep alone, br For the sad old earth must borrow it’s mirth, br But has trouble enough of its own. br Sing, and the hills will answer; br Sigh, it is lost on the air. br The echoes bound to a joyful sound, br But shrink from voicing care. br br Rejoice, and men will seek you; br Grieve, and they turn and go. br They want full measure of all your pleasure, br But they do not need your woes. br Be glad, and your friend are many; br Be sad, and you lose them all. br There are none to decline your nectared wine, br But alone you must drink life’s gall. br br Feast and your halls are crowded; br Fast, and the word goes by. br Succeed and give, and it helps you to live, br But no man can help you die. br There is room in the halls of pleasure, br For a long and lordly train, br But one by one we must all file on, - br Through the narrow aisles of pain! br ----0 ---- br Ella’s other classic poem –‘The Man Worth While’, the br opening stanza; - br ' It is easy enough to be pleasant br When life flows like a song; br But the man worth while is one who smiles, br When everything goes dead wrong! ' br - - Ella Wheeler Wilcox br br DEDICATED TO OUR POET & FRIEND SANDRA FLOWER.