Solitude by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
☮ 🧘♂️ ♾
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air;
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.
Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go;
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all,—
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life’s gall.
Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a large and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.
As a young boy, I never really liked poems. The complex words and deeper meanings behind the rhymes often left me confused. It wasn’t until college that my perspective began to change.
One day, someone in my class used the word “solitude.” Curious about its meaning, I Googled it. Below the definition, I stumbled upon the poem “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. The first line was so captivating that I found myself reading the entire poem multiple times. With the help of Google Translate, I deciphered the words I didn’t know. As I understood more, I began to appreciate the poem deeply. I believe Wilcox wrote it as she began to grasp how the world reacts differently to each person based on their personality and circumstances. It’s truly a masterpiece.
After reading it repeatedly and listening to its audio version on YouTube, I fell in love with the poem. I even wrote it down in my diary, where I kept wise quotes and ideas about success, productivity, and future business ventures. This poem was the first I ever noted down, and it inspired me to try writing my own poem. Although my attempts didn’t come close to her work.
This poem is the most profound piece I’ve ever encountered. It reveals the harsh reality that the world can be a mean and selfish place, where people are often drawn to you for what you can offer them.
Most of us first discovered Ella Wheeler Wilcox through “The Way of the World,” also known as “Solitude.” But she was much more than just that one piece. She authored many poems and published several popular collections, including Poems of Passion (1883) and Poems of Pleasure (1888). Among her vast body of work, two other poems stand out to me: “Worthwhile” and “Voice of the Voiceless.” Like “Solitude,” these poems resonate deeply with me.
Ella’s life was profoundly shaped by her love for her husband. His untimely death marked a significant loss, deeply influencing her writing. She was so connected to him that even after his passing, she sought ways to maintain that bond, though she was never quite able to. This enduring love and the sadness it brought are evident in her works, reflecting the emotional depth that often fuels great art.
Beyond her poetry, Ella was a committed vegetarian and a passionate advocate for animal rights. Imagine, a white woman in early 1900s America, choosing a vegetarian lifestyle—she was truly ahead of her time. From everything I’ve read about her, it’s clear that she was not only a talented writer but also a genuinely compassionate person.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s Works
Poetry
- Poems of Passion (1883, W.B. Conkey Company [Chicago])
- Drops of Water (1889, The National Temperance Society and Publication House [New York])
- Maurine and Other Poems (1888, W.B. Conkey Company [Chicago])
- Poems of Pleasure (1888, Belford, Clarke, and Company [New York])
- Poems of Reflection (1905, M. A. Donahue & Co. [Chicago])
- Poems of Cheer (1908, Gay and Hancock Ltd [London])
- Poems of Progress and New Thought Pastels (1909, W.B. Conkey Company [Chicago])
- Poems of Affection (1920, Gay and Hancock Ltd [London])
- Poems of Life (1921)
Novels
- Mal Moulée: A Novel (1885)
- A Double Life (1890)
- Sweet Danger (1892)
- A Woman of the World: Her Counsel to Other People’s Sons and Daughters (1904)
There’s no denying that Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an incredible poet.
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