Ed. note: A new original poem from writer Steven Sweeney. This one, with Brezast Cancer Awareness Month coming up, he has graciously dedicated to my daughter, Lindsay, who lost her fight with breast cancer 10 years ago today, September 2, 2012.
Persist
by Steven Sweeney
When the sky is dark and gray
And no more does sunshine pour
It becomes so easy to slip away
To create of lesser, more
To wander aimless in time and space
Or even into self
To forget what’s just above the clouds
And lose sight of our great wealth
Which lies not in silk lined pockets
It’s not found in coin or gold
But rather in our kin and health
In the nuance of the fold
In the small of little victories
In all the simple things
We find what is most dear to us
The joy achievement brings
To be happy and most content
Is but God’s greatest gift
Persevere and know true victory
And too great will be no rift
Yet sometimes we must look upward
In the hour of life exposed
We must know Him and His love
To keep the course composed
We must seek never a ending patience
And strive resolve divine
We must aim but always higher
To tend the flower and the vine
We must try to be strong always
View the glen as green and blooming
We must maintain our steadfast focus
To mount every challenge looming
So go forth with unshaken fervor
But most of all with purpose
Never ever think surrender
Have conviction straight and furious
Be ever vigilant and zenith bound
Ever able with tools a plenty
Be ever grateful but firm on ground
Ever stable with the support of many
Then if you know just where to look
If you can find this peace
Forever will you know a path
No foe shall bring defeat
And you will be made whole again
Your armor battle ready
Prepared to face the coming storm
Your sword light, sharp and steady
Only then will dark skies pass
Will gray cease from plains above
To address the root and pluck it
In thyself to trust and love
But know this when night is nearest
You will never be alone
Always in your corner loyal
Both God, and I your stone
Count on us at any moment
We will come whenever called
To help strengthen your defenses
To remind of lessons auld
To predict that storms will pass
In the face of fear, be brave
Don’t give up on dreams of glory
Fight until you hit the grave
Just know when it’s dark and cloudy
That light somewhere exists
We owe this much to us and Him
Persist. Persist. Persist.
