UP Ibalon Bicol

12/22/2008 | Posted by bambi ricafrente | Edit Post

Don't Quit Poem by Anonymous)

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must; but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

≈≈≈≈≈

This was the favorite poem of the late Og (Thor) Aldea of Ligao, Albay. Those who knew him well are familiar with his naughty disposition and his brand of humor, including his propensity for rearranging songs to suit his comic intentions. But whether he was in a light or somber mood, he repeatedly recited this poem – with gestures to match – until it was coming out of one’s ears. He always emphasized the last stanza, especially the last two lines.

In these tough times, this poem takes on added meaning and urgency. It is hoped that its message of courage against the odds would bring some light to those of us who are on a journey through the long, dark road of our borrowed life.

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