DESIDERATA

Max Ehrmann was an attorney-turned-

philosopher poet who lived in Terre Haute, Ind.
He spent his life wrestling with the realities of
making a living and following his personal
calling to a life of poetry, literature and
thought. He wrote A Prayer, which became a
message of hope for thousands, but he is best
known for Desiderata, which he wrote for
himself, "because it counsels those virtues I
felt myself most in need of." Max included this
work as part of a personal Christmas greeting
in 1933, and Desiderata's power and appeal
have continued to reach out to and
significantly affect readers ever since.
 The Poem
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth
quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they, too, have their
story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare
yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater or
lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep
interested in you own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing
fortunes of time. ​

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not
blind you for what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life
is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about
love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take
kindly the council of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture
strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark
imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no
less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whatever your labors
and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham,
drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
 HISTORY
The word “Desiderata” comes from Latin and
means “things that are desired.” It is also
the title of an extremely famous poem that
gained particular fame in the sixties as a result
of the hippie movement. The text is a
compendium of wise advice that turned the
whole world on its head due to the precision of
its ideas and the profoundness of its content.
 HISTORY ..
At a certain point, a large debate broke out
over the origins of this poem. A legend was
woven around the text saying that it had been
written by an anonymous monk and that it had
been found later on the bench of a church in
Baltimore two hundred years ago. According to
this version, the poem was written in the year
1692.
 HISTORY…
In reality, this was all a mistake. The author
of “Desiderata” was the philosopher and
lawyer Max Ehrman. But the text was never
published while he was alive. It did not come to
light until 1948 when his wife published his
poems posthumously.
The mistake originated from the fact that for many
years, “Desiderata” was a poem that circulated
from hand to hand, as a sort of act of good will.
It turned into something of a manifesto. People
who read it sought to to practice everything that
was written there.
 HISTORY….
Many chose not to write the name of the author and so
it arrived in the hands of a pastor in Maryland who
compiled various texts to make a special Christmas
edition. Among these texts was “Desiderata,” and beside
the name, the Presbyterian wrote down a legend: “Saint
Paul’s Church, 1692.” He only wrote this information to
identify his temple and the year of its foundation.
One of the parishioners fell in love with the poem and asked
a newspaper to publish it. No sooner said than done, and
then the mistake that it dated back to 1692 and had been
found in Saint Paul’s Church became widespread.
Whatever the case may be, the truth is that it is a
beautiful text that has been translated into more
than 70 languages.
 DIDACTIC POEM
 Didactic poem is a morally instructional piece of verse.
Max Ehrmann’s poem offers a a code for
life emphasizing tolerance, inclusion and optimism. The
poem is full of wise sayings and gentle guidance. The
reader is urged to find peace within themselves, and
project this inner peace in their dealings with the world.
We see the poem endorsing an attitude to accept the
world in all its entirety, with all its contrasts.
 
Moreover, the lines of the poem start with verbs like
‘Go’, ‘Speak’, ‘Listen’, ‘Avoid’, ‘Enjoy’, ‘Keep’, ‘Exercise’
and so on, making the poem a set of instructions for a
better life. So ‘Desiderata’ is a didactic poem both in
its theme and presentation.
 PROSE POEM
Prose poem
A prose composition that, while not broken
into verse lines, demonstrates other traits
such as symbols, metaphors, and other 
figures of speech common to poetry. See
Amy Lowell’s “Bath,” “Metals Metals” by
Russell Edson, “Information” by David
Ignatow, and Harryette Mullen’s 
“[Kills bugs dead.]” 
 STRUCTURE
Desiderata, should move through life: "Go placidly
through amid the noise and haste." The poet
also uses the pronoun "you" repeatedly
throughout the poem; this also speaks to the
idea that the poet is speaking directly to
Desiderata. That said, one could also argue that
the poet is speaking to the reader directly, as
one who desires something. Also by using the
pronoun "you," the other argument could be
grounded in the idea that we, as readers, are
Ehrmann's subjects. He wishes to teach us
something about moving through life.
 MOOD
The mood of the poem is optimistic and positive. The
poem's mood is defined by examining the poet's
word choice. While some words within the poem are
negative, these words are only used to illustrate how
one should focus upon the positive. With this focus
on the positive, one is able to be optimistic in life.

In regards to the writing, one should focus upon the simplicity of the
poetic line. Each line offers the reader, or Desiderata, a moment of
insight into the world around himself or herself. The lines do not
possess any rhyme, and they exist more as symbiotic pieces of advice
which will (hopefully) help the reader live a better life. Some of the
shorter lines offer the most promising advice: "Be yourself," "Be
cheerful," "Strive to be happy.
THANK YOU