In conversation with the poems
Poems by others, read closely and answered in reflection.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s poem “As You Go Through Life” is a gentle reminder and an invitation to reflect on how we respond to life’s inadequacies, challenges, and purpose. Reading it today, I was struck by how relevant its message is in a world that often encourages complaint rather than compassion.
Picture by: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ella_Wheeler_Wilcox,_1896.jpg
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“A Life Shaped by Hard-won Wisdom”
Isabella Wheeler, also known as Ella Wheeler, was born in Johnstown, Wisconsin, USA, on November 5, 1850. She was an American poet, journalist, and novelist whose work in the 19th and 20th centuries provided insightful reflections on life, love, and perseverance. Her style and themes often relate to and carefully blend her personal experiences with ideas of change, suffering, sentiments, and human emotions.
Wilcox’s personal experiences shaped her writing, including financial struggles, a near-fatal bout with typhoid fever, and the intricacies of her 1884 marriage to Robert Wilcox.
She died in 1919, leaving behind a body of memorable work that established her as a captivating figure in American literature.
As You Go Through Life
By
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Don't look for the flaws as you go through life;
And even when you find them,
It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind
And look for the virtue behind them.
For the cloudiest night has a hint of light
Somewhere in its shadows hiding;
It is better by far to hunt for a star,
Than the spots on the sun abiding.
The current of life runs ever away
To the bosom of God's great ocean.
Don't set your force 'gainst the river's course
And think to alter its motion.
Don't waste a curse on the universe—
Remember it lived before you.
Don't butt at the storm with your puny form,
But bend and let it go o'er you.
The world will never adjust itself
To suit your whims to the letter.
Some things must go wrong your whole life long,
And the sooner you know it the better.
It is folly to fight with the Infinite,
And go under at last in the wrestle;
The wiser man shapes into God's plan
As water shapes into a vessel.
Poem Interpretation
“As You Go Through Life” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox is composed of three stanzas of eight lines each, employing simple, direct language to convey timeless moral and spiritual truths.
In the first stanza, Wilcox acknowledges human faults and imperfections. Rather than encouraging judgment, she gently reminds us to look beyond shortcomings and recognise the goodness within people. This perspective calls for compassion—an attitude that reflects both emotional maturity and spiritual grace.
The second stanza highlights our tendency to complain when life gets tough. The line “Don’t waste a curse on the universe” acts as a reminder that resentment and blame hardly change our situation. Instead, challenges become opportunities—times that can build character, increase understanding, and teach patience if we let them.
In the final stanza, the poem offers a humbling realisation: the world does not exist to conform to our wishes. We are, instead, shaped by life’s experiences to fulfil a greater purpose. There is comfort in this idea—that even hardship may serve a sovereign design leading us towards meaning and growth.
Overall, Wilcox encourages readers to face life with humility and faith, trusting that what they encounter is not a coincidence. When seen this way, life’s trials become less heavy and more like blessings—quietly guiding us toward a greater sense of purpose aligned with God’s plan.
Till next time,
Cheers
References:
As you go through life by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. (n.d.). All Poetry – The world’s largest poetry site : All Poetry. https://allpoetry.com/As-You-Go-Through-Life
Ella Wheeler Wilcox. (1999, July 2). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ella-Wheeler-Wilcox
Ella Wheeler Wilcox [Photographic Portrait]. (2016, January 15). commons.wikimedia.org. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ella_Wheeler_Wilcox,_1896.jpg
Ella Wheeler Wilcox. (2025, November 18). Literary Devices. https://literarydevices.net/ella-wheeler-wilcox/#google_vignette
Ellan Wheeler Wilcox. (n.d.). Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ella-wheeler-wilcox
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