To

climb

–

f

r

o

m

–

the

deepest,

–

–

darkest

decline . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

To

try

–

–

even

when

–

–

badly

beat

–

a

n

d

–

barely

alive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

To

fight

–

f

o

r

–

every

inch

–

o

f

–

each

merciless

mile . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

To

raise

–

–

a

head

high

–

i

n

–

the

daylight

–

–

w

i

t

h

–

–

a

strong

sense

–

o

f

–

pride . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

This

–

i

s

–

the

life

–

I

–

will

ignite . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

This

–

i

s

–

the

life

–

–

that

will

–

b

e

–

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

A

life

–

–

built

beyond

–

t

h

e

–

relentless

plight . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

A

life

–

–

created

–

b

y

–

supreme

sacrifice . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

A

life

–

–

fueled

–

b

y

–

determined

drive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

won’t

–

b

e

–

denied . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ No, I

won’t

–

b

e

–

denied . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

To

climb

–

f

r

o

m

–

the

deepest,

–

–

darkest

decline . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

To

try

–

–

even

when

–

–

badly

beat

–

a

n

d

–

barely

alive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

To

fight

–

f

o

r

–

every

inch

–

o

f

–

each

merciless

mile . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

To

raise

–

–

a

head

high

–

i

n

–

the

daylight

–

–

w

i

t

h

–

–

a

strong

sense

–

o

f

–

pride . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

This

–

i

s

–

the

life

–

I

–

will

ignite . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

This

–

i

s

–

the

life

–

–

that

will

–

b

e

–

mine.

Reflection:

There is a classic song that I just love (musically speaking) but I hate much of the lyrics (it’s a bit too blindly patriotic for my tastes). I thought, gosh, so many more people could relate to this song if the lyrics were changed – so, I took it upon myself to do just that. And the overwhelming positive response I received after publishing this poem resulted in it being one of my best loved poems of all time.

I felt that this poem was a very important poem for me to write. It had a lot of significance for my life but was more importantly written for those who struggle again and again in life. Victory is assured for those who stand firm and endure – it is only a question of focus, strength, and determination. May this poem inspire those who struggle to keep fighting.

I used the music from the song “The Impossible Dream” (I like both the Jack Jones and Frank Sinatra versions of this song – musically speaking), at low volume, to create the “moodset” while writing this poem. So, if you listen to the song at low volume while reading this poem, you might better get the “feel” of it.