Question

Live not for battles won.
Live not for the-end-of-the-song.
Live for the along

Does the along mean the process?

And if I replace the last sentence with either live for process or live for (the) process, which is correct? I am so confused with the usage of the. Thanks

Avangi · Accepted Answer

WillPittLive for the along

WillPittDoes the along mean the process?

That would be my guess, but I've never heard anything remotely like this! "Along" is not a noun. It seems to be a nonce word in this case.

WillPitt live for process or live for (the) process, which is correct?

I would use the article.
You can use it or not use it, according to whether you want the countable or the uncountable sense of "process."

Viva [la] process!

Clive · Answer

Let's quote the whole poem, as context.

Speech to the Young : Speech to the Progress-Toward

Say to them,
say to the down-keepers,
the sun-slappers,
the self-soilers,
the harmony-hushers,
"even if you are not ready for day
it cannot always be night."
You will be right.
For that is the hard home-run.

Live not for battles won.
Live not for the-end-of-the-song.
Live in the along.

Gwendolyn BrooksDoes the along mean the process? Yes, that's my opinion. Live day by day.

And if I replace the last sentence with either live for process or live for (the) process, which is correct? I am so confused with the usage of the. Both are OK. But Ms Brooks made a specic reference (the along), so you should do the same (the process).\

The word 'along' is more interesting, provokes more thought, is more poetic, than the word 'process'.

In addition. it rhymes with 'song'.

Clive

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Speech to the Young : Speech to the Progress-Toward

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