"Desiderata" is a 1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann.
Largely unknown in the author's lifetime, the text became widely known after its use
in a devotional and after spoken-word recordings in 1971 and 1972.
History
American writer Max Ehrmann wrote the prose poem "Desiderata" in 1927.
In 1956, the Reverend Frederick Kates, rector of Saint Paul's Church in Baltimore, Maryland,
included Desiderata in a compilation of devotional materials for his congregation.
The compilation included the church's foundation date: "Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore
A.D. 1692".
Consequently, the date of the text's authorship was widely mistaken as 1692, the year of the
church's foundation.
When US Democratic presidential hopeful Adlai Stevenson died in 1965, a guest in his home
found the Desiderata near his bedside and discovered that Stevenson had planned to use
it in his Christmas cards.
This contributed further to the poem becoming widely known.
The text was widely distributed in poster form.
Calling it "Spock Thoughts", Leonard Nimoy recited the poem on his 1968 album, Two Sides
of Leonard Nimoy.
This version also appeared on the 1995 re-release of Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock's Music
From Outer Space.
His rendition is not the only one to change the second-to-last sentence from "Be Cheerful"
to "Be Careful".
In late 1971 and early 1972, Les Crane's spoken-word recording of Desiderata peaked at #8 on the
Billboard chart, #4 on the Canadian RPM Magazine chart, and #6 on the UK Melody Maker's chart.
It made #4 on the Australian singles chart in 1971.
The producers of Crane's recording assumed that the poem was too old to be in copyright,
but the publicity surrounding the record led to clarification of Ehrmann's authorship and
his family eventually receiving royalties.
The British band In the Nursery adapted the poem to music on its 1992 album Duality.
In response to his Government's losing its majority in the Canadian federal election,
1972 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau quoted the Desiderata by reassuring the nation that
"the universe is unfolding as it should."
On August 26, 2010, a bronze statue of Ehrmann sitting on a park bench was unveiled in Terre
Haute, Indiana, his hometown, with the sculpture done by Bill Wolfe.
On a nearby walkway, some lines of the poem are also available to be read by passers-by.
Recently in 2012, actor Morgan Freeman interviewed on Oprah Winfrey's Master Class television
special, Freeman expressed how deeply the poem, 'Desiderata' shaped his life.
Copyright Status The poem's copyright A 962402 was registered
by Ehrmann on Jan. 3, 1927 as "Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, etc.
Card.", and was renewed by his wife in 1954.
In August 1971 the poem was published in Success Unlimited magazine, again without authorization
from Ehrmann's family.
In a 1976 lawsuit against the magazine's publisher, Combined Registry Company, the court ruled
that copyright had been forfeited because the poem had been authorized for publication
without a copyright notice in the 1940s – and that the poem is therefore in the public
domain.
Parodies and related works Deteriorata – National Lampoon's 1972 parody
of Les Crane's 1971 spoken word recording.
"Oregon Dryrotta" – a parody by Wally Newman, written in the 1980s.
It starts with "Go placidly amid the volcanic ash, and remember what peace there may be
found in carpooling."
"Gamers' Desiderata" – An adaptation from 2001: "Go placidly amid the smoke and carnage..."
Wear Sunscreen – an essay written by columnist Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune, and made
into a music single by Lee Perry and Quindon Tarver.
Love Serenade - the poem is quoted a few times in this Australian movie comedy.
It was used in The Professionals, Episode 5, Serie 5 - "Discovered in Graveyard".
In this movie Cowley reads a poster in Ray Doyles apartment, which contains a part of
this poem.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - In the episode 'Catalina Caper,' Joel and the 'Bots lightly
mangle a quote from the Desiderata by stating, "Let's see...
You are a child, no less than the trees..."
At the very end of the episode 'Mitchell,' Tom Servo notes that he thought Joel would
have quoted something more profound on the talking plaque he left behind...
"...even the Desiderata..."
And again the Desiderata was quoted by Joel and the 'Bots in the MST3K episode 'Cave Dwellers':
"...you are a child of the universe, no less than the trees..."
References