.

On Never Giving Up

On reaching the point where it’s tough to find answers to
_“What-are-we-doing-this-for?”
And the number of people that “couldn’t-care-less”
_Surpasses the “couldn’t-care-more,”

Always look back to the point where you started,
_Examine the worth of your cause,
Stir your resolve by reminding your Courage
_That “Setbacks are merely a pause,”

Focus your Purpose again on the challenge
_You’re valiantly working to face,
Bearing in mind that the speed to improvement
_Is typically done at a pace

That even the staunchest supporter complains is a
_Really tall hurdle to leap,
But well worth the effort to harvest the goal
_He intends to eventually reap.

.

.

Mark Stellinga is a poet and antiques dealer residing in Iowa. He has often won the annual adult-division poetry contests sponsored by the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, has had many pieces posted in several magazines and sites over the past 60 years, including Poem-Hunter.com, PoetrySoup.com, and Able Muse.com—where he won the 1st place prize for both ‘best poem’ of the year and ‘best book of verse.’

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8 Responses

  1. Paul A. Freeman

    A poetic piece of advice for almost every task we put our minds to in life, from cooking a meal to climbing Mt. Everest.

    Thanks for the read, Mark.

    Reply
    • Mark Stellinga

      You’re very welcome, Paul, and I can relate to the task of ‘cooking a meal’ more than ANY mountain – fortunately my wife’s a fabulous cook. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Mark, this was such a smooth poem to read. There were some remarkably well-phrased lines and perfectly stated points to your powerful message reminding us that patience is needed, as well as determination to reach a worthwhile goal.

    Reply
    • Mark Stellinga

      Thanks, Roy. Few know this better than Connie and I as we’ve been restoring all sorts of finer antiques for 45+ years, and are always extremely thorough. We still have a more less dormant website dedicated to primarily pre-1900 billiard and barbershop items, our two 1st loves as collectors. – http://www.billiard-antiques.com – if you’d care to browse it sometime.

      Reply
    • Mark Stellinga

      Thank you, Margaret – it’s fashioned after several hundred more of the same style – I’m a diehard, rhyme-‘n’-meter ‘populist’, and I appreciate your compliment.

      Reply
  4. Brian Yapko

    This was the right poem at the right moment. I really needed something to help “stir my resolve” and so am grateful for the inspiration that your excellenbt piece has provided, Mark. Thank you!

    Reply
  5. Mark Stellinga

    You know how very welcome you are, Brian. I’m very pleased that it helped to strengthen YOUR resolve, and it honestly did the same for MY resolve as well as I built this little philosophical gem! Take care, my friend. 🙂

    Reply

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