BE STRONG !

 

 

BE STRONG !

                        (A POEM BY MALTBIE DAVENPORT BABCOCK)

 

BE STRONG! is an inspirational poem. It is short but very profound. The poet M. B. Babcock was an American clergyman (1858-1901) who is more famous for another poem “This Is My Father’s World.”

 

The intent of an inspirational poem is to uplift your mood, to relieve you from depression, idleness and pessimism and to reactivate  you for action, fight and struggle with great hope and endless optimism. Such a poem motivates you to shed your prevailing  weakness, call up your hidden strength and engage yourself in your destined activities like a hero. It urges  you to go on working hard, struggling and fighting till the deep intrenched wrong is converted into right.  You are born to do this. You are not here to play, to entertain yourself, to dream and spend your time in idle thoughts and speculations, but  to work hard and face the struggle confronting you. You are not  meant  to faint or keep quiet. Your duty is to show your indomitable strength and speak out your thoughts fearlessly. This beautiful aspect of your life’s aim is God’s gift.  It is virtuous, not vicious. So, shun not the struggle, don’t bend your knees before it, but face it boldly in God’s name . The result will  be not a mournful elegy but a delightful song

 

The poem reads as follows:

 

BE STRONG !

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do and loads to lift.

Shun not the struggle --- face it; ‘tis God’s gift.

 

Be Strong !

Say not, “The days are evil. Who’s to blame?”

And fold the hands and acquiesce – oh, shame!

Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s name.

 

Be Strong !

It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day how long;

Faint not ---- fight on ! Tomorrow comes the song.

           

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14^th February 2022                                                 G.R.KANWAL