One Hundred Years (Poem)

Poem Analysis by Mr. C. Kingsley and Co.

"One Hundred Years" is a poem that explores the tension between immediate gratification and long-term impact, posing an existential reflection on the meaning of one's work and legacy. The poem addresses the discrepancy between effort and immediate results, warning against measuring the value of one's work in short increments of time.

Instead, it urges the reader to adopt a long-term view, where the true worth of their contributions may only become clear in "at least one hundred years." This idea reflects a form of philosophical patience that transcends the present moment and immediate validation, aligning with Stoic or Nietzschean philosophies.

The poem also presents a paradox: the "true visage" of one's work will not be seen by the individual themselves, but by others. This raises questions about the nature of purpose and meaning, as the fulfillment of work may lie beyond personal experience. This parallels the existentialist ideas of thinkers like Camus and Sartre, who explore the absurdity of human existence and the search for meaning in a world that may not provide it.

The poem invokes the idea of collective memory, "the sea of history" and "humanity's true memory," as the ultimate arbiter of one's legacy. This reflects a philosophical stance that what we do contribute to a broader human narrative that outlasts individual lives.

In this way, the poem aligns with thinkers like Hannah Arendt, who emphasized the importance of action and speech in the public realm as a means of securing a form of immortality through remembrance by future generations.

In conclusion, "One Hundred Years" is a meditation on the nature of legacy, patience, and the human drive to create something that outlasts individual mortality. It calls for an acknowledgment of life's transience while encouraging an acceptance of the unknown future value of our work.

The Poem Itself

Whenever your statistics get low for a while

Whenever you feel less good to be alive,

When you have walked more than a mile,

And yet, the results are lower than one has strived,

-- Remember this, for this is important:

Your work might outlive your life's expectancy,

And your work is like necromancy:

To keep you alive even though you will die,

And make others remember you, and say, in a way, "hi".

Your work's value should not be estimated by a month or a year,

It should be seen as possible, to reach at least one hundred years!

And when that century's length will arrive,

Only then, the fruits of your work and name will be, post-death, alive,

In the eyes and minds of humanity, even more than in a single society.

Thus, the full potential of your work, might not be yours to see,

But for those who will outlive you, in the sea

Of history;

Humanity's true memory.

This is not a sprint, this is a marathon!

Even if you will produce more than a ton,

The true visage will be seen by others, and very less likely,

By you.