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What Will Matter

Author: Michael Josephson

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

What Will Matter Poem Verses

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the
end.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant
Even your gender and skin colour will be irrelevant.
So what will matter?
How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what
you gave.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved
you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s not a matter of circumstance, but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.

Audio Recording

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'What Will Matter' can be tailored/personalised

Download Poem

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'What Will Matter' can be tailored/personalised

Donwload As PDF

Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

The poem is about the importance of living a meaningful and purposeful life. The speaker acknowledges that eventually, everything will come to an end, including time itself. The things that once seemed so important, such as material possessions, social status, and physical appearance, will fade away and become irrelevant. The poem emphasizes that what truly matters in life is what you built, what you gave, what you taught, and the memories that you leave behind for those who loved you. The poem encourages the reader to focus on the things that truly matter in life and to make conscious choices that lead to a life that matters. Ultimately, the poem suggests that living a life that matters requires effort, intention, and a willingness to prioritize the things that truly matter.

The Structure of Poem

The poem "What Will Matter" is structured in free verse and consists of a single stanza. The poem begins by stating that everything will come to an end someday, including time, and that everything that once seemed important will fade away. The poem goes on to ask the reader what will truly matter in the end and suggests that what will matter is not material possessions, but what we have contributed to the world and the people around us. It encourages the reader to live a life that matters by making intentional choices that positively impact others. The poem concludes with a call to action, urging the reader to choose to live a life that matters.

Best Quote from What Will Matter Poem

This is a quote from the poem What Will Matter by Michael Josephson

"What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave."

This quote emphasizes the importance of giving and contributing to the world, rather than just accumulating material possessions or achievements. It encourages people to focus on building a meaningful legacy through their actions and impact on others.