I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When sorrow walked with me.
-Robert Browning Hamilton
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This poem was left on my door by a very beloved neighbor after my firstborn son died. I committed it to memory that day and have quoted it to many, many people who have honestly appreciated the content.
Thank you Ted, for sharing that with me and the readers here. It means a lot.
Best,
Nina
It is very poem of poetry! tone of song! music of thoughts, and tune of ears… hauntingly memorable! tasteful!
My Grandfather got me to memorize this poem when I was 8 years old (he passed away when I was 18 but left me with this wonderful nugget of knowledge for a lifetime) – it has helped me for over more than 3 decades to handle some really hard trials. Robert Browning Hamilton certainly knew a lot about what develops character!
what is the general meaning of this poem (pleasure and sorrow)
We ‘know’ in silence, maybe because in sorrow we ponder about the things that might have been. Thank you for making life more beautiful for me today.
Thank you, Golda. For making MY life more beautiful for me today with your lovely comment.
With love,
Nina
Heard this quoted by Adrian Rogers today. He’d forgotten who the author was, and I hurried to google it and see if there were more.
stumbled upon this poem by accident while i was leaving a 9.5 year relationship, it has made me stronger, it has made me more courageous, it just sang to my soul and it provided a background beat on which i moved through my days post break-up…heartbreakingly beautiful for me
Such a true poem. Learn from your sorrow!
Ditto @ Bob–I heard it on Adrian Rogers this afternoon and Googled it. It is a wonderful poem. I will make it a memory assignment to my children for our English lessons. King David said in the Psalms: “It was good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.” Psa/ 119:71
Thanks for posting this, Nina. It is a great treasure to share with a friend going through tough times!
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I thought it was “I walked a mile with gladness…”
This poem appears in A BOOK OF PERSONAL POEMS, compiled and edited by William R. Bowlin and published by Albert Whitman Company of Chicago, Illinois in 1946. I purchased a copy of the book on May 29, 1960. In this anthology this poem by Robert Browning Hamilton is titled “Along the Road.” I have read, memorized and thought of this poem a number of times in the years since I first read it.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and a little background information on the poem, Raymond. This poems has been very meaningful to me as well.
Be well!
Nina
God knows exactly when we need a word of enlightenment.
Thanks
Bless you, and have a wonderful day! It is my pleasure to share this poem that I first read when I was 11 years old in an old book of poetry given to mother when she was in college.
I am going through a divorce after 34 (nearly 35) years with my husband. I heard this poem recited in an audiobook I’m listening to and hurried to google it because the words in it convey the mantra I’ve been trying to repeat to myself through this most excrutiating of times. Thank you for posting it…
I first heard this poem read by a minister at a funeral. Being a young funeral director at the time it stuck in my head and I went about trying to find who wrote it and I wanted to read the entire poem if their were more. This was in the days before google and the internet but I eventually found it in an old college poetry textbook. I had it printed and mounted in a frame so I could see it often. As a older funeral director I can’t express how perfect the feeling and meaning of this poem is to anyone suffering from the loss of a loved one or just going through the trials we have in life. It often reminds me of my own childhood and hardships our family had growing up and it fits so perfectly to those tough times.
First time i read this poem ,i felt that some thing around it is hidding ,
I DONT know What or Why !
such a poetic peom,,
thank u 4 posting this
be fine
This poem was quoted by Kathryn Kuhlman in one of her radio sermons. I first heard it in the late seventies, and have never forgotten it’s wise message. Thanks for posting!
[...] 2. I Walked a Mile with Pleasure [...]
Alguem poderia me passar esse poema completo por favor, em um momento de dor um amigo americano me enviou e eu gostei muito, mas como pude perceber aqui, tem mais alguma parte dele, então por favor me enviem….
desde já agradeço…
Could someone pass me the full poem please in a moment of pain an American friend sent me and I really liked, but as I see here, have any more of it, so please send me ….
I thank you …
mano.nascimento@gmail.com