William Ernest Henley

Praise the generous gods for giving
   In a world of wrath and strife,
With a little time for living,
   Unto all the joy of life.

At whatever source we drink it,
   Art or life or faith or wine,
In whatever terms we think it,
   It is common and divine.

Praise the high gods, for in giving
   This for man, and this alone,
They have made his chance for living
   Shine the equal of their own.