How Did You Die? - A Life-Changing Poem for Troublesome Times

Read by Shane Morris
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Full Poem:
Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?

Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that!
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there-that's disgrace.

The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts;
It's how did you fight-and why?

And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.

Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only how did you die?

- Edmund Vance Cooke

[allisonroberts]

I read that poem to my sister when she was dying of cancer in 1996. She said that was her favorite poem. She fought the good fight!
I placed a copy of it at her grave with her flowers. She was just 48.
Miss you, Ginny. 💔

[AI-Mindwaves]

''Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live''

[mazzamo]

some one else might argue : How did you live ?

as Oscar wild said "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."
--Mae West

[jaxx-inspiregrowcreate]

Most people take their dreams to the graveyard. Don't let that be you

[chrismcgowan]

Words don't this this justice, the poem is a classic, but the crack and timbre in the speakers voice, touch in a powerful way.

[annsmahboob]

"Be proud of your blackened eye". No fighter ever is ashamed of a battle scar

[Tonetwisters]

I died the first time, back in the summer of 1963, when my dad came out to the street where I was playing ball and said, "She's kicking me out." The roof, the sky and the world caved in on me. Then I died a second time on 19 January 1995, when my brother's girlfriend called me at work and told me that my best friend had dropped dead from a heart attack in Thomasville, Georgia. Thank God for Jesus ...

[andrewjimenez]

Ik I’m not the only one who finds this voice soothing 🙂.. I can listen to it all day

[tireachan]

Had 33 seconds without a heartbeat as I was on the final stretch from septicaemia. I knew I was dying when it got to that point, I was shutting down and was ridiculously angry about being beat by this infection, I was angry about all the things I'd never get to do, people I'd never see again, promises I'd not be able to keep. I would have died angry if the resuscitation failed and the antibiotics hadn't worked. The consultant cardiologist is convinced that my angered emotional state and willingness to fight would have had a positive endocrine response through adrenaline release. This poem captures the essence of that human willingness to survive or go down fighting.

[inejghafa]

The person reciting this enhances the experience several times. Thanks

[chaospxnda]

This found it's way to me in the time I am in most need. I have been down depressed and frankly suicidal for about a year now. I have let the world beat me down and I just stood there and took it like a coward. Why did I not rise up? Why did I not fight? As much as every ounce of my being is saying run away, this one single poem has given me the strength to say you know what life it's mine and I'm taken it back. No more letting the world control me and back me down to the ground. From this point in I might fall, but death will be the only thing keeping me there. I will rise up and battle my demons. I will tell the world fvck you. I needed this so much right now. I am sitting in my psychiatrist office right now waiting and trying not to cry. I will be strong.

[tomaszpaz]

I don't think poetry has ever touched me so deeply. What a great message! What a great voice!

[etzarah]

“...But to lie there, that’s disgrace.”
That line gives me chills.

[Ryz]

I thank you. That stoic quote video changed my life. My whole life I want to climb a mountain but the whole world was always against me (work, school, family.) But this year I climb my mountain.

[matthewnoah]

My father left this world in the arms of my mother 07-24-21 at 4:05 pm they would have been married 66 years September 3! To see my father take his last breath in the arms of my mother I will never forget! My father’s mission in life was to share the good news about Jesus and the hope that he had in him! I thank God we serve a living God who is alive and in control! Till we meet at Jesus feet, bye Pop

[videomonksofficial]

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

[deborahfairbanks]

I'm spellbound. God knows, I needed this poem right now.

[howardjamespatterson]

Ego said to soul " Go away we have no need of you " . Soul in silence and shed a tear .

[carsonfarist]

Thank GOD I’m going home when I die!!! Amen