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Laugh and Be Merry by John Masefield

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This poem passionately urges us to embrace life while we can.

Poet
John Masefield
Composed
1910 · Victorian
Core theme
Faith
The PoemFull text

Laugh and Be Merry

John Masefield, 1910

Laugh and be merry, remember, better the world with a song, Better the world with a blow in the teeth of a wrong. Laugh, for the time is brief, a thread the length of a span. Laugh and be proud to belong to the old proud pageant of man. Laugh and be merry: remember, in olden time. God made Heaven and Earth for joy He took in a rhyme, Made them, and filled them full with the strong red wine of His mirth, The splendid joy of the stars: the joy of the earth. So we must laugh and drink from the deep blue cup of the sky, Join the jubilant song of the great stars sweeping by, Laugh, and battle, and work, and drink of the wine outpoured In the dear green earth, the sign of the joy of the Lord. Laugh and be merry together, like brothers akin, Guesting awhile in the rooms of a beautiful inn, Glad till the dancing stops, and the lilt of the music ends. Laugh till the game is played; and be you merry, my friends.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

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§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This poem passionately urges us to embrace life while we can. Masefield reminds us that joy is woven into the essence of creation — God crafted the world from delight — so we should laugh, work, stand up for justice, and celebrate with others. Life may be brief, but it's also a part of something vast and timeless, so we ought to savor every moment we have in it.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Laugh and be merry, remember, better the world with a song, Better the world with a blow in the teeth of a wrong.

    Editor's note

    Masefield begins with a directive: laugh, but don’t just sit back and let it happen. Here, joy is something you actively pursue — you can make a difference in the world through song (or art and creativity) and by confronting injustice ("a blow in the teeth of a wrong"). Life is fleeting ("a thread the length of a span," with a span being the width of a hand, an old measurement), yet we are part of the rich, enduring narrative of humanity, which adds significance to our short lives.

  2. Laugh and be merry: remember, in olden time. God made Heaven and Earth for joy He took in a rhyme,

    Editor's note

    Here, Masefield connects his philosophy directly to creation. God didn't create the world out of obligation—He made it for the joy of it, much like a poet crafting a rhyme. The phrase "strong red wine of His mirth" paints a striking picture: joy isn't something weak or polite; it's deep and intoxicating. The stars and the earth showcase that initial delight, still evident all around us.

  3. So we must laugh and drink from the deep blue cup of the sky, Join the jubilant song of the great stars sweeping by,

    Editor's note

    The "so" here carries real weight — it leads to a logical conclusion. Since creation sprang from joy, *we* should join in that joy. The sky transforms into a cup we drink from, and the stars seem to sing. Masefield encourages us to laugh, fight for what’s right, work diligently, and appreciate the beauty of the green earth, which he refers to as "the sign of the joy of the Lord" — a tangible reminder that the world was crafted with love.

  4. Laugh and be merry together, like brothers akin, Guesting awhile in the rooms of a beautiful inn,

    Editor's note

    The final stanza moves from the cosmic to the personal. We are all guests at the same inn — life is a temporary stay, not a lasting residence. The imagery feels warm instead of sorrowful: the inn is *beautiful*, the company feels like family, and there's dancing and music. The poem concludes with "be you merry, my friends" — a soft, personal goodbye that recognizes the celebration will eventually end, but encourages us to savor it completely until that time comes.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is joyful and encouraging — Masefield is essentially raising a toast to life itself. There's a sense that time is limited, but it never veers into sadness. The repeated command "Laugh" maintains a lively, collective energy, resembling a rallying cry more than a personal reflection. It feels festive, much like a powerful hymn: heartfelt, bold, and intended to be sung together.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The inn
Life is like a short visit to a beautiful place. We’re guests here, not owners — we move through, savor the warmth and companionship, and then we depart. This perspective eases the harsh reality of mortality, making it feel welcoming instead of intimidating.
Wine / the cup of the sky
Joy is like a drink — rich, tangible, and intoxicating. The "deep blue cup of the sky" transforms everything we see into a source of pleasure. Wine also has a subtle religious resonance (the Eucharist), suggesting that earthly joy and divine joy are intertwined.
The song / rhyme
Creation is an expression of artistic joy. God crafted the world like a poet writes a poem — simply for the love of it. This elevates human creativity, like song and laughter, to a sacred and cosmically significant level.
The stars
The stars embody the pure, enduring joy of creation. They are "jubilant" and "sweeping" — far from being cold or indifferent, they actively celebrate. Gazing at them connects us to the same delight that ignited the universe into existence.
The green earth
The earth is called "dear" and seen as a "sign" — a tangible representation of God's joy brought to life. Its greenness represents life, renewal, and abundance instead of decay.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
dactylic hexameter
Rhyme
AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH

§07Historical context

Historical context

John Masefield wrote this poem in the early twentieth century, a time when he was building his reputation as a poet known for his straightforward and vigorous verse. Masefield's background included time at sea and various manual jobs, which deeply influenced his knack for direct and lively language. He became the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in 1930 and held the position until his death in 1967. "Laugh and Be Merry" captures the Edwardian preference for poetry that is accessible, musical, and uplifting without being preachy. It also reflects the influence of A.E. Housman's philosophy on life's brevity and the broader late-Victorian tradition of finding spiritual significance in nature. The poem's theology is loose and joyful—focusing more on the celebration of joy as a form of worship rather than strict doctrine.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

What is the main message of 'Laugh and Be Merry'?

The poem's main message is that life is short yet beautiful, and the best way to respond is with genuine, enthusiastic joy. Masefield doesn’t suggest that you should overlook your problems — he emphasizes the importance of standing up against injustices — but he believes that laughter and celebration are essential, not trivial. In his perspective, they capture the essence of what it means to be alive.

What does 'a thread the length of a span' mean?

A "span" is an old unit of measurement that refers to the width of a spread hand, which is about nine inches. So, a thread of that length is quite short. Masefield is pointing out that human life is fleeting, almost absurdly so. However, instead of letting this lead to despair, he encourages us to find joy and laughter in every moment.

What does 'guesting awhile in the rooms of a beautiful inn' mean?

It's a metaphor for life as a fleeting visit. We are guests, not long-term inhabitants — we check in, savor the warmth, the friendships, the music, and then we depart. Referring to the inn as "beautiful" matters: Masefield isn't being morbid about death; he's suggesting that the transient nature of life doesn't diminish its beauty.

Is this poem religious?

It includes religious themes—God, creation, "the joy of the Lord"—but it isn’t a doctrinal poem. Masefield presents a joyful God who created the world for pleasure to suggest that joy is sacred. The theology feels more like poetry than a rigid doctrine: it leans toward celebrating existence rather than asserting a specific faith.

What is the poem's rhyme scheme and structure?

The poem consists of four quatrains, each containing four lines. It features an AABB rhyme scheme, where the first two lines rhyme and the last two lines rhyme. The lines are lengthy and flowing, creating a strong rhythmic beat that lends the poem a quality reminiscent of hymns or chants.

Why does Masefield repeat 'Laugh' so many times?

The repetition is intentional and serves a rhetorical purpose — it functions like a drumbeat or a toast being raised repeatedly. Each "Laugh" acts as a new command, drawing the reader back to the core idea while introducing additional meaning. This approach also imbues the poem with an oral, communal vibe, making it feel like something meant to be shared aloud with an audience.

What does 'the old proud pageant of man' mean?

A pageant is a vibrant and elaborate spectacle. Masefield suggests that all of human history — every generation that has existed — is part of one grand parade. Being alive means you get to join in. The word "proud" indicates that this is something to celebrate, not merely to tolerate.

What does 'battle' mean in the third stanza?

Masefield highlights "laugh, and battle, and work" as three essential actions for us. The term "battle" doesn't strictly refer to physical conflict—it relates to the earlier line about "blow in the teeth of a wrong." It signifies the struggle for justice and standing up against unfairness. For Masefield, joy encompasses moral courage as well as simple pleasure.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Masefield, John. "Laugh and Be Merry." 1910. Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/laugh-and-be-merry-john-masefield/.

APA

Masefield, J. (1910). Laugh and be merry. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/laugh-and-be-merry-john-masefield/

TeacherAP Lit Q1 scaffold — preview

Row A — Thesis

1 pt

In 'Laugh and Be Merry,' John Masefield constructs joy not as a private emotion but as a cosmic obligation, a response to a universe created in an act of divine pleasure. He argues that fully inhabiting human life, with all its brevity, is …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
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