"The Winds of Fate,” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

One ship drives east and another west,

With the self-same winds that blow.

’Tis the set of the sail, and not the gale,

Which tells us the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,

As we journey along through life;

’Tis the set of the soul that decides the goal,

And not the calm or the strife.

………………………………

Analysis

This short poem reminds us that we are all impacted by fate but still have choices. It brings some questions to our minds and leaves us asking which way the wind is blowing in our life journey.

Do the upheavals, ups, and downs leave you with tough choices? What do we do when the wind shifts entirely and there is no reliable forecast? We can change the set of our sails, but when, how much, and is more needed?

The ship is an effective metaphor for the lives and journeys of people. Each individual has their own choices on how they choose to be influenced by those things that happen. The wind is considered fate, but setting the sail is more important than the direction of the wind.

People pick very different goals and destinations, and life is about choices.

Additional Information

on how author Brent M. Jones used this poem

It was a strong influence on his book “Work Matters: Insights and Strategies For Job Seekers In This Rapidly Changing Economy.”. In addition, it would be helpful to consider this book before reading Embrace Life’s Randomness: Your Path to Personal Reinvention and Positive Change.