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In this post, we’ve assembled a massive list of poems about perseverance in which writers investigate and reflect on the spirit of perseverance and endurance required to live a good life.
Everyone will face difficulties at a certain point in their lives. Quite often the challenges last only for a little while, while at some other occasions they seem to linger much longer than anticipated.
Even when we believe that we’re about to be shattered, we each have tremendous power that can carry us forward. It is possible that having the drive and mindset to endure will make a massive difference.
Allow these poems about perseverance to inspire you to keep going no matter what obstacles you face. These perseverance poems encourage you to find a way around the hurdles, rather than just giving up. Those that endure are the ones who reach the finish line.
Despite the fact that life’s hardships are terrible and we wish we could escape them, they help shape our personalities. These hardships give us insights that we’d never have learned if everything was going great. With that in mind, let us now look at some poems about perseverance.
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Best Poems about Perseverance
Here are some of the best poems about perseverance. Allow these poems to inspire you to continue pushing even when you want to give up. The passages remind us that one of the cornerstones to a productive life is perseverance.
1. The Gift of Perseverance
by John Henry Newman
Once, as I brooded o’er my guilty state,
A fever seized me, duties to devise,
To buy me interest in my Saviour’s eyes;
Not that His love I would extenuate,
But scourge and penance, masterful self-hate,
Or gift of cost, served by an artifice
To quell my restless thoughts and envious sighs
And doubts, which fain heaven’s peace would antedate.
Thus, as I tossed, He said: – ‘E’en holiest deeds
Shroud not the soul from God, nor soothe its needs;
Deny thee thine own fears, and wait the end!’
Stern lesson! Let me con it day by day,
And learn to kneel before the Omniscient Ray,
Nor shrink, when Truth’s avenging shafts descend!
2. Dreams
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Thank God for dreams! I, desolate and lone,
In the dark curtained night, did seem to be
The centre where all golden sun-rays shone,
And, sitting there, held converse sweet with thee.
No shadow lurked between us; all was bright
And beautiful as in the hours gone by,
I smiled, and was rewarded by the light
Of olden days soft beaming from thine eye.
Thank God, thank God for dreams!
I thought the birds all listened; for thy voice
Pulsed through the air, like beat of silver wings.
It made each chamber of my soul rejoice
And thrilled along my heart’s tear-rusted strings.
As some devout and ever-prayerful nun
Tells her bright beads, and counts them o’er and o’er,
Thy golden words I gathered, one by one,
And slipped them into memory’s precious store.
Thank God, thank God for dreams!
My lips met thine in one ecstatic kiss.
Hand pressed in hand, and heart to heart we sat.
Why even now I am surcharged with bliss –
With joy supreme, if I but think of that.
No fear of separation or of change
Crept in to mar our sweet serene content.
In that blest vision, nothing could estrange
Our wedded souls, in perfect union blent.
Thank God, thank God for dreams!
Thank God for dreams! when nothing else is left.
When the sick soul, all tortured with its pain,
Knowing itself forever more bereft,
Finds waiting hopeless and all watching vain,
When empty arms grow rigid with their ache,
When eyes are blinded with sad tides of tears,
When stricken hearts do suffer, yet not break,
For loss of those who come not with the years –
Thank God, thank God for dreams!
3. A Distant Song
by John Gould Fletcher
Whether awake or sleeping,
I cannot rest for long:
By my casement comes creeping
A distant song.
A song like the chiming of silver
Bells which the breezes play,
Seeming to float for ever
Towards an unseen day:
A song that is weary with sorrow,
Yet knows not any defeat:
Through the past, through to-day, through to-morrow,
It echoes on life’s long street.
Could I but make words of its power,
Bring it from the future here,
Men’s souls would be waking, that hour,
To the victory against fear.
But the vague sweet stanza befools me
With its calm joy, time after time,
And no failure here ever schools me
To cease from an idle rhyme.
That music afar, unspoken,
’Tis I have done it wrong:
I caught, and I have broken,
A distant song.
4. Do It Now
by Nixon Waterman
If you have a task worth doing,
Do it now!
In delay there’s danger brewing,
Do it now!
Don’t you be a “by-and-byer”
And a sluggish patience-trier;
If there’s aught you would acquire,
Do it now!
If you’d earn a prize worth owning,
Do it now!
Drop all waiting and postponing,
Do it now!
Say, “I will!” and then stick to it,
Choose your purpose and pursue it,
There’s but one right way to do it,
Do it now!
All we have is just this minute,
Do it now!
Find your duty and begin it,
Do it now!
Surely, you’re not always going
To be “a going-to-be”; and knowing
You must some time make a showing
Do it now!
5. Times Go by Turns
by Robert South well
The lopped tree in time may grow again;
Most naked plants renew both fruit and flower;
The sorest wight may find release of pain,
The driest soil suck in some moist’ning shower;
Times go by turns and chances change by course,
From foul to fair, from better hap to worse.
The sea of Fortune doth not ever flow,
She draws her favors to the lowest ebb;
Her time hath equal times to come and go,
Her loom doth weave the fine and coarsest web;
No joy so great but runneth to an end,
No hap so hard but may in fine amend.
Not always fall of leaf nor ever spring,
No endless night yet not eternal day;
The saddest birds a season find to sing,
The roughest storm a calm may soon allay;
Thus, with succeeding turns God tempereth all,
That man may hope to rise yet fear to fall.
A chance may win that by mischance was lost;
The well that holds no great, takes little fish;
In some things all, in all things none are crossed,
Few all they need, but none have all they wish;
Unmeddled joys here to no man befall,
Who least hath some, who most hath never all?
6. The Rainy Day
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
7. Compensation
by Christopher Pearse Cranch
Tears wash away the atoms in the eye
That smarted for a day;
Rain-clouds that spoiled the splendors of the sky
The fields with flowers array.
No chamber of pain but has some hidden door
That promises release;
No solitude so drear but yields its store
Of thought and inward peace.
No night so wild but brings the constant sun
With love and power untold;
No time so dark but through its woof there run
Some blessed threads of gold.
And through the long and storm-tost centuries burn
In changing calm and strife
The Pharos-lights of truth, where’er we turn, —
The unquenched lamps of life.
O Love supreme! O Providence divine!
What self-adjusting springs
Of law and life, what even scales, are thine,
What sure-returning wings
Of hopes and joys, that flit like birds away,
When chilling autumn blows,
But come again, long ere the buds of May
Their rosy lips unclose!
What wondrous play of mood and accident?
Through shifting days and years;
What fresh returns of vigor overspent
In feverish dreams and fears!
What wholesome air of conscience and of thought
When doubts and forms oppress;
What vistas opening to the gates we sought
Beyond the wilderness;
Beyond the narrow cells, where self-involved,
Like chrysalids, we wait
The unknown births, the mysteries unsolved
Of death and change and fate!
O Light divine! we need no fuller test
That all is ordered well;
We know enough to trust that all is best
Where love and wisdom dwell.
8. Something Beyond
by Mary (Clemmer) (Ames) Hudson
Something beyond! though now, with joy unfound,
The life-task falleth from thy weary hand,
Be brave, be patient! In the fair beyond
Thou ’lt understand.
Thou ’lt understand why our most royal hours
Couch sorrowful slaves bound by low nature’s greed;
Why the celestial soul ’s a minion made?
To narrowest need.
In this pent sphere of being incomplete,
The imperfect fragment of a beauteous whole,
For yon rare regions, where the perfect meet,
Sighs the lone soul.
Sighs for the perfect! Far and fair it lies;
It hath no half-fed friendships perishing fleet,
No partial insights, no averted eyes,
No loves unmeet.
Something beyond! Light for our clouded eyes!
In this dark dwelling, in its shrouded beams,
Our best waits masked, few pierce the soul’s disguise;
How sad it seems!
Something beyond! Ah, if it were not so,
Darker would be thy face, O brief To-day;
Earthward we ’d bow beneath life’s smiting woe,
Powerless to pray.
Something beyond! The immortal morning stands
Above the night; clear shines her precious brow;
The pendulous star in her transfigured hands
Brightens the Now.
9. Keep a Song Up on De Way
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Oh, de clouds are mighty heavy
An’ de rain is mighty thick;
Keep a song up on de way.
An’ de waters is a rumblin’
On de boulders in de crick,
Keep a song up on de way.
Fu’ a bird ercross de road
Is a–singin’ lak he knowed
Dat we people did n’t daih
Fu’ to try de rainy aih
Wid a song up on de way.
What’s de use o’ gittin’ mopy,
Case de weather ain’ de bes’!
Keep a song up on de way.
W’en de rain is fallin’ ha’des’,
Dey ’s de longes’ times to res’
Keep a song up on de way.
Dough de plough ’s a–stan’in’ still
Dey ‘ll be watah fu’ de mill,
Rain mus’ come ez well ez sun
‘Fo’ de weathah’s wo’k is done,
Keep a song up on de way.
W’y hit’s nice to hyeah de showahs
Fallin’ down ermong de trees:
Keep a song up on de way.
Ef de birds don’ bothah ‘bout it,
But go singin’ lak dey please,
Keep a song up on de way.
You don’ s’pose I’s gwine to see
Dem ah fowls do mo’ dan me?
No, suh, I ‘ll des chase dis frown,
An’ aldough de rain falls down,
Keep a song up on de way.
10. Don’t Worry
by William Arthur Dunkerley (John Oxenham)
Just do your best,
And leave the rest
To Him who gave you
Life, –
And Zeal for Labour, –
And the Joy of Strife, –
And Zest of Love, –
And all that lifts your soul above
The lower things.
Life’s truest harvest is in what we would,
And strive our best for,
Not most in what we could.
The things we count supreme
Stand, haply, not so high
In God’s esteem
As How and Why.
All-Seeing Sight
Cleaves through the husk of things,
Right to the Roots and Springs, –
Sees all things whole,
And measures less the body than the soul.
All-Righteous Right
Will weigh men’s motives,
Not their deeds alone.
End and Beginning unto Him are one;
And would for could shall oft, perchance, atone.
Motives are seeds,
From which at times spring deeds
Not equal to the soul’s outreaching hope.
Strive for the stars!
Count nought well done but best!
Then, with brave patience, leave the rest
To Him who knows.
He’ll judge you justly ere the record close.
Famous Poems about Perseverance
Let us now go through some famous poems about perseverance. These poems about perseverance by famous poets emphasize that an individual must never give up hope and keep fighting all obstacles.
1. Persevere
by Anonymous
The fisher who draws in his net too soon,
Won’t have any fish to sell;
The child who shuts up his book too soon,
Won’t learn any lessons well.
If you would have your learning stay,
Be patient, —stick with it and hold fast:
The man who travels a mile each day,
May get round the world at last.
2. The Hustling Pumpkin Vine
by Uncle Mose
Say boy, don’t go a mopin’ ’round ‘n’ talkin’ in a whine,
But go out in the field and view the hustling pumpkin vine.
It has the kind o’ stuff in it that’s needed, boy, in you,
A kind o’ gets there quality that most folks say will do.
The weeds may grow around it but the pumpkin vine don’t stop,
It shows it’s there fer business an’ it climbs right out on top.
An’ if it strikes a big stone fence or ditch that may be wide,
It jes’ lines out ‘n strings the pumpkins on the other side.
So boy, don’t let the weeds or ditches drive you from your way,
But go ahead and get on top—do something every day.
An’ if things look discouraging, don’t ever mope or whine,
But go and learn a lesson from the hustling pumpkin vine.
3. Perseverance
by Alice Cary
The boy who does a stroke, and stops—
Will ne’er a great man be;
’Tis the aggregate of single drops
That makes the sea the sea.
The mountain was not at its birth
A mountain, so to speak:
The little atoms of sand and earth
Have made its peak a peak.
Not all at once the morning streams
Its gold above the gray,
It takes a thousand little beams
To make the day the day
Not from the snow-drift, may awakes,
In purples, reds, and greens;
Spring’s whole bright retinue it takes
To make her queen of queens.
Upon the orchard, rain must fall,
And soak from branch to root,
And blossoms bloom and fade withal,
Before the fruit is fruit.
The farmer needs must sow and till
And wait the wheaten head,
Then cradle, thresh, and go to mill,
Before his bread is bread.
Swift heels may get the early shout,
But, spite of all the din,
It is the patient holding out
That makes the winner win.
Make this your motto, then, at start,
’Twill help to smooth the way,
And steady up both hand and heart, —
“Rome wasn’t built in a day!”
4. Do Your Best
by Kate Louise Wheeler
Make the best of life today—
Take what God has given;
Do not falter on the way—
Each step leads to Heaven.
Tho’ the journey may be long,
And the way be weary,
Make it shorter with a song—
Days will seem less dreary.
Let the sunshine fill your heart—
All its shadows hiding;
Do your humble little part—
Leave to God the guiding.
Do not soar to highest things
‘Till you have a reason;
He will give the soul its wings
In his own good season.
Little robins in the nest—
Ere their wings are stronger—
Learn too late that it is best
To keep patient longer.
If you cannot do to-day
What you hope and plan,
God will show a better way, —
Do the best you can.
5. How Did You Die?
by Edmund Vance Cooke
Did you tackle that trouble that came your way?
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what’s that!
Come up with a smiling face.
It’s nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there—that’s disgrace.
The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts;
It’s how did you fight and why?
And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he’s slow or spry,
It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts,
But only, how did you die?
6. Boys Wanted
by Anonymous
Boys of spirit, boys of will,
Boys of muscle, brain and power,
Fit to cope with anything,
These are wanted every hour.
Not the weak and whining drones,
Who all troubles magnify;
Not the watchword of “I can’t,”
But the nobler one, “I’ll try.”
Do whate’er you have to do
With a true and earnest zeal;
Bend your sinews to the task,
“Put your shoulders to the wheel.”
Though your duty may be hard,
Look not on it as an ill;
If it be an honest task,
Do it with an honest will.
In the workshop, on the farm,
At the desk, where’er you be,
From your future efforts, boys,
Comes a nation’s destiny.
7. Adventurer’s Luck
by James W. Whilt
Did you ever go a-trapping?
Where you knew the fur was plenty,
Where a year ago you could have
Made a bunch of “jacks”?
Next fall you got in early,
Built your cabin in a hurry, —
Then didn’t even find a weasel track?
Did you ever go prospecting?
Where the gold was found in millions,
And even every musher
Had made a pile of wealth?
And you worked just like a beaver
Cause you felt you couldn’t leave ‘er,
And all you got was badly broken health?
Did you ever go a-fishing?
When the weather, —it was perfect!
And you gathered up your tackle
And had it fixed just right:
And you whipped the streams and bait-fished
And maybe swore a little,
And then you never even got a bite?
Did you ever go a-hunting?
When the woods were damp and gloomy,
Where everything was stillness
And everywhere a trail,
And you traveled over ridges,
Through the hollows, round the ledges
And then you never even glimpsed a tail?
But such is luck I find it,
And the fellow who stays by it
Will at last succeed and win the day:
Be he trapper, or prospector,
Be he fisherman, or hunter,
I have always found it
That it’s pluck that wins the day.
8. Clinching the Bolt
by Edgar A. Guest
It needed just an extra turn to make the bolt secure,
A few more minutes on the job and then the work was sure;
But he begrudged the extra turn, and when the task was through,
The man was back for more repairs in just a day or two.
Two men there are in every place, and one is only fair,
The other gives the extra turn to every bolt that’s there;
One man is slip-shod in his work and eager to be quit,
The other never leaves a task until he’s sure of it.
The difference ‘twixt good and bad is not so very much,
A few more minutes at the task, an extra turn or touch,
A final test that all is right—and yet the men are few
Who seem to think it worth their while these extra things to do?
The poor man knows as well as does the good man how to work,
But one takes pride in every task, the other likes to shirk;
With just as little as he can, one seeks his pay to earn,
The good man always gives the bolt that clinching, extra turn.
9. Invictus
by William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud;
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
10. A Picture
by Olivia Ward Bush-Banks
I drew a picture long ago—
A picture of a sullen sea;
A picture that I value now
Because it clears Life’s mystery.
My sea was dark and full of gloom;
I painted rocks of sombre hue.
My sky alone bespoke of light,
And that I painted palest blue.
But e’en across my sky of blue
Stretched troubled clouds of sodden gray,
Through which the sun shone weak and dim,
With only here and there a ray.
Around my rocks the yellow foam
Seemed surging, moaning in despair
As if the waves, their fury spent,
Left naught but desolation there.
Three crafts with fluttering sails I drew,
And one sailed near the rocks of gray,
The other on its westward course,
Went speeding out of danger’s way.
The other still outdistanced them
Where sky and water seemed to met.
I painted that with sails full set,
And then my picture was complete.
My life was like the sullen sea,
Misfortunes, woes, my rocks of gray,
The crafts portrayed Life’s changing scenes,
The clouded sky Life’s troubled Day.
I longed to paint that picture o’er
Without the rocks of sombre hue;
Without the troubled clouds of gray,
I’ll paint the sky of brightest blue.
My sea shall lay in calm repose,
No hint of surging, moaning sigh.
My crafts, unhindered by the rocks,
Shall speed in joyous swiftness by.
But this shall be when brightest hours
Of hope and cheer are given me.
I’ll paint this picture when Life’s sun
Shines clear upon Prosperity
Short Poems about Perseverance
The writers in these short poems about perseverance are attempting to emphasize the concept of perseverance in all aspects of life. They are trying to instill in us the attitude of perseverance and the ability to overcome any obstacles that may arise.
1. Resolve
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Build on resolve, and not upon regret,
The structure of thy future. Do not grope
Among the shadows of old sins, but let
Thine own soul’s light shine on the path of hope
And dissipate the darkness. Waste no tears
Upon the blotted record of lost years,
But turn the leaf, and smile, oh, smile, to see
The fair white pages that remain for thee.
Prate not of thy repentance. But believe
The spark divine dwells in thee: let it grow.
That which the upreaching spirit can achieve
The grand and all-creative forces know;
They will assist and strengthen as the light
Lifts up the acorn to the oak tree’s height.
Thou hast but to resolve, and lo! God’s whole
Great universe shall fortify thy soul.
2. Earnestness
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The hurry of the times affects us so
In this swift rushing hour, we crowd and press,
And thrust each other backward, as we go,
And do not pause to lay sufficient stress
Upon that good, strong, true word, Earnestness.
In our impetuous haste, could we but know
Its full, deep meaning, its vast import, oh,
Then might we grasp the secret of success!
In that receding age when men were great,
The bone, and sinew of their purpose lay
In this one word. God likes an earnest soul—
Too earnest to be eager. Soon or late
It leaves the spent horde breathless by the way,
And stands serene, triumphant, at the goal.
3. Perseverance
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
We must not hope to be mowers,
And to gather the ripe gold ears,
Unless we have first been sowers
And watered the furrows with tears.
It is not just as we take it,
This mystical world of ours,
Life’s field will yield as we make it
A harvest of thorns or of flowers.
4. Good Company
by Anonymous
“I’ll Try!” is a soldier;
“I will” is a king;
Be sure they are near
When the school-bells ring.
When school-days are over,
And boys are men,
“I’ll Try!” and “I Will!”
Are good things then.
5. Resolution
by Ruby Archer
The waves oppose the cliffs with daily force,
And fall resisted back along their course.
My soul opposes fate with daily will,
And falls resisted back, defeated still,
With gathered strength returning, like the waves,
To wrest complete dominion that it craves.
The cliffs are stone, and stone will wear away.
Spirit shall rule, and fate itself obey.
6. I Am but a Small-Winged Bird
by Sidney Lanier
I am but a small-winged bird:
But I will conquer the big world
As the bee-martin beats the crow,
By attacking it always from Above.
7. Perseverance
by Robert Herrick
Hast thou begun an act? ne’er then give o’er:
No man despairs to do what’s done before.
8. Persistence
by Walter Savage Landor
My hopes retire; my wishes as before
Struggle to find their resting-place in vain:
The ebbing sea thus beats against the shore;
The shore repels it; it returns again.
9. Walkers with The Dawn
by Langston Hughes
Being walkers with the dawn and morning
Walkers with the sun and morning,
We are not afraid of night,
Nor days of gloom,
Nor darkness,
Being walkers with the sun and morning.
10. Patience and Perseverance
by Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
So long as our existence lasts,
we must not give up the duty of cheerfulness and hope.
He who has guided us through the day,
will guide us through the night also.
The pillar of darkness often turns into a pillar of fire.
Have patience and perseverance;
believe that there is still a future before us,
and we shall at last reach the haven where we would be.
Inspirational Poems about Perseverance
These inspirational poems about perseverance emphasize the value of endurance in life and urge readers to face their anxieties. The rhythmic form of these poems demonstrates endurance. They inspire us to fight and work hard in order to attain our life goals.
1. Finding A Will When Wanting to Quit
by Tyquan L. Norwood
Times will get rough and sometimes tough,
Where you may say that you have had enough,
Where you may fall and need a lift,
Where the hurt of your pains may leave you stiff.
When all things may seem to go wrong,
Just pick up some faith and carry on,
Because you may never know how close you’ve come to be,
To reach the throne of victory.
There has been some time that passed,
That many thought they could not last.
But with a mighty blow they’ve come to see,
That they had made history.
When you may feel that there is nothing that you can do,
Here is something you can refer to.
As some people say, “Where there is a will, there’s a way.”
With this being said, I feel a brighter day,
One without hurt, one without sorrow,
One with a brighter tomorrow.
So, in the fight, you may get knocked down,
But get back up without a frown,
Because it’s when you’re hardest hit
That you must say that you will not quit.
So, push on harder and hear me when I say,
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
2. Keep Your Grit
by Mabel E. Bailey
Hang on! Cling on! No matter what they say;
Push on! Sting on! Things will come your way.
Sitting down and whining never helps a bit.
Best way to get there is by keeping up your grit.
Don’t give up hoping when the ship goes down.
Grab a spar or something – just refuse to drown.
Don’t think you’re dying just because you’re hit.
Smile in face of danger and hang to your grit.
Folks die to easy – they sort of fade away;
Make a little error, and give up in dismay.
Kind of man that’s needed is the man with ready wit.
To laugh at pain and trouble and keep his grit.
3. Let’s Persevere
by F. M. O’Rouke
Perseverance is trying and trying,
And trying again each day;
E’en through failures and disappointment
Come thick and fast our way.
But if we press on with a purpose
That is always steadfast and true,
With the “star of hope” to guide us
And the goal kept ever in view,
We will surely at last attain to the height
That belongs to those who try to do right;
So let us, then
With a song in our hearts,
And on our lips a cheer,
Adopt for life’s slogan –
“Let’s Persevere.”
4. Persevere Always
by Charles Francis Glass
Let us persevere,
At work or play,
And be sincere
On every day.
If we would win,
There is a way,
Keep up the din,
And it will pay.
We must be spry
And fight to win;
If we come nigh
Make gold or tin.
Let us use grit,
Work on and pray;
We cannot sit
And win the day.
Do what we say
Earn all the praise,
Get what we may
And persevere always.
5. Keep Peggin’ Along
by James Conway Jackson
The race is not to the swift they say,
Nor the victory always to the strong;
But the one who perseveres will win
If he’ll jes keep peggin’ along.
Your way may be steep and your way may be rough,
And you just a wee mite midst the throng;
But stick to the right and you’ll sure win the fight
If you’ll jest keep peggin’ along.
Don’t mind the hard knocks and the kicks and the cuffs,
Push on; by and by you’ll grow strong;
Don’t slacken your paces, you’ll sure win the race
If you’ll jes keep peggin’ along.
6. Keep a-Goin
by Frank L. Stanton
If you strike a thorn or rose,
Keep a-goin’!
If it hails, or if it snows,
Keep a-goin!
‘Taint no use to sit a’ whine,
When the fish ain’t on yer line;
Bait yer hook an’ keep a-tryin’—
Keep a-goin’!
When the weather kills yer crop,
Keep a-goin’!
When you tumble from the top,
Keep a-goin’!
S’pose you’re out of every dime,
Bein’ so ain’t any crime;
Tell the world you’re feelin’ prime—
Keep a-goin’!
When it looks like all is up,
Keep a-goin’!
Drain the sweetness from the cup,
Keep a-goin’!
See the wild birds on the wing,
Hear the bells that sweetly ring,
When you feel like sighin’ sing—
Keep a-goin’!
7. His Other Chance
by Edgar A. Guest
He was down and out, and his pluck was gone,
And he said to me in a gloomy way:
“I’ve wasted my chances, one by one,
And I’m just no good, as the people say.
Nothing ahead, and my dreams all dust,
Though once there was something I might have been,
But I wasn’t game, and I broke my trust,
And I wasn’t straight and I wasn’t clean.”
“You’re pretty low down,” says I to him,
“But nobody’s holding you there, my friend.
Life is a stream where men sink or swim,
And the drifters come to a sorry end;
But there’s two of you living and breathing still—
The fellow you are, and he’s tough to see,
And another chap, if you’ve got the will,
The man that you still have a chance to be.”
He laughed with scorn. “Is there two of me?
I thought I’d murdered the other one.
I once knew a chap that I hoped to be,
And he was decent, but now he’s gone.”
“Well,” says I, “it may seem to you
That life has little of joy in store,
But there’s always something you still can do,
And there’s never a man but can try once more.
8. God Will Count Your Honest Try
by William Henry Dawson
If in life’s great, onward battle
You have done your best and lost,
If amid the din and rattle
You regarded not the cost,
If you met your foeman bravely,
If you dared to do or die,
God will credit you, most surely,
For your fearless, honest try.
Have you sometimes felt discouraged?
Felt that life had lost its charm,
And that every effort failed you,
Bringing to you only harm?
Look within and ask this question:
“Have I done my level best?”
If you answer, without guessing,
“Yes,” then God will do the rest.
Has this neighbor won more glory?
That one more of earthly store?
Though your hair is thin and hoary,
Are you poorer than before?
Have you helped, with hands quite willing?
Have you heard the orphan’s cry?
Given part of your last shilling?
God will count your honest try.
9. Endeavor
by Anonymous
“If at first you don’t succeed,
Try try again,”—
That’s a manly sort of creed
For boys and men.
Trying doesn’t cost a cent,
May win a prize;
Men that mope in discontent
Will never rise.
There is magic in a try,
Vigor and vim;
He that trusts in “by and by,”
Look out for him!
You will never know your strength
Without a test;
Just by Better Street at length
One reaches Best.
10. Try Again
by Anonymous
‘T is a lesson you should heed,
Try, try again;
If at first you don’t succeed,
Try, try again;
Then your courage should appear,
For, if you will persevere,
You will conquer, never fear;
Try, try again.
Once or twice though you should fail,
Try, try again;
If you would at last prevail,
Try, try again;
If we strive, ’tis no disgrace
Though we do not win the race;
What should you do in the case?
Try, try again.
If you find your task is hard,
Try, try again;
Time will bring you your reward,
Try, try again.
All those other folks can do,
Why, with patience, should not you?
Only keep this rule in view:
Try, try again.
Poems about Perseverance through Hard Times
These poems about perseverance through hard times explain how obstacles and achievement are both a part of life. These poems teach us that if we encounter excellent things, we must be prepared to go forward. And if you are encircled by gloom, you must persevere.
1. Stalwart
by Abimbola T. Alabi
Vagaries of this life can be
Tough and hard to fathom,
And yet have they conquered me?
Look how far I’ve come.
As I climb up its hill,
Slopes and jagged edges and all,
There are times I slip but still
At no time did I fall.
As I tread along its way
Sometimes I run into bends,
Stumbling blocks on some days
But never into dead ends.
As I sprint down its lane,
Hurdles seem to abound,
Yet the tripping now and again
Still can’t bring me down.
Whims of life that lie in wait
Though I may not have a clue,
Firm is my will, strong is my faith.
My God will see me through.
2. Secret of Happiness
by Navdeep Babbar
When sadness fills your heart,
When tears make you fall apart,
When it’s gloomy all around,
When you hear a silent killing sound,
When love loses its meaning,
When you always end up screaming,
When hope is lost and faith is shattered,
When you have lost every battle that mattered,
That is gifted time in life
Because God is with you when you struggle and strife.
Don’t let it go, for there’s much you may learn
Cause happiness is gained only when you yearn.
This dark night will soon end in day.
We will laugh again and play.
Spring will come very soon.
Our fate will again shine like moon.
Hopes dashed to the ground will again be honored and crowned.
Desire left alone will never be drowned.
The dazzling light from above will fall on us.
It will begin the process of all sorrow minus and all joys plus.
He’ll say life is waiting for you.
Angels and love are in your crew.
Now don’t ever shed a single tear
Cause I’ll always be there.
3. Moving Toward Temporary
by Sadwick
Sometimes your best isn’t enough
And happiness comes after sorrow
Life isn’t always going to be rough
Yet, I can’t speak for tomorrow
Love doesn’t come for free
And hard work is sometimes fatal
Forgiveness isn’t always easy
And wars can be mental
We know living can be stressful
And it’s hard to see the blessings
In all things, try to be thankful
And try and find a silver lining
When pain is persistent
And the hurt seems too heavy
Remember you are resilient
And this is temporary
4. A Soldier of Life
by Dylan Simpson
Wounded and broken,
But still, we stand tall.
No challenge too over-bearing,
And no fear too consuming.
For each day is a battle,
One we do not always win,
But our persistence is our courage.
We fight with all that we have,
And sometimes that is not enough,
Yet still we continue in a battle
With victory seeming impossible.
Our determination and dreams of happiness
Are not only our guidance,
But also, a dagger in our back,
For it is the euphoric joy and brightness
That we battle for.
With each passing loss,
The prospects of happiness begin to grow dim.
Again, we continue to fight,
Disregarding the wounds of our previous battles,
Ignoring what may seem inevitable.
For every once in a while we stand,
Our heads held high, victorious at last.
It is now that we find the will-power to keep fighting,
To continue in this never-ending war.
But for that brief moment of victory,
We embrace the beauty that is life and all it has to offer.
5. Keep Going
by Edgar Guest
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
And the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
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 every one 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 may 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 musn’t quit
6. Keep Your Focus
by Catherine Pulsifer
You developed your goals and now have a plan
You know deep in your heart that you can
You may feel at times that you have failed
But by persevering you will fill your sail.
Continue to take it step by step
The goals you set are your prep
When progress is slow and you are feeling down
Keep moving forward and hold your ground.
When obstacles are around every turn
You must stay focused on what you yearn
You see success you will find
When you persevere and focus clear in your mind.
The mountain may seem overwhelming
Your dreams out of sight
But determination brings on a great might
Persevere and keep moving forward
Never doubt that the day will come
When all your efforts will be achieved and then some.
7. Keep A Pluggin’ Away
by E. M. Glotzback
I’ve a humble little motto
That is homely, though it’s true –
Keep a pluggin’ away
It’s a thing when I’ve an object
That I always try to do-
Keep a pluggin’ away.
When you’ve rising storms to quell,
When opposing waters swell.
It will never fail to tell –
Keep a pluggin’ away.
If the hills are high before
And the paths are hard to climb,
Keep a pluggin’ away.
And remember that successes
Come to him who bides his time –
Keep a pluggin away.
From the greatest to the least,
None are from the rule released.
Be thou toiler, poet, priest,
Keep pluggin’ away.
Dive beneath the surface
There is treasure farther down-
Keep a pluggin’ away.
When the clouds have rolled away,
There will come a brighter day
All your labor to repay –
Keep a pluggin’ away.
There’ll be lots of sneers to swallow,
There’ll be lots of pain to bear –
Keep a pluggin’ away.
If you’ve got your eye on heaven,
Some bright day you’ll awake up there –
Keep a pluggin’ away.
Perseverance still is king;
Time its sure reward will bring;
Work and wait unwearing –
Keep a pluggin’ away.
8. Obstacles Gone
by Catherine Pulsifer
Your struggles are a part of life
Never expect success without some strife
Your willpower and hard work will pay off
And the results will be nothing to scoff.
If everything was easy, it would all be done
The challenges and obstacles can be part of the fun.
Keep your eyes looking forward, solutions will be found
And you will find a life that is sound.
When we give up and we quit
We lose all of our determination and our wit
We must always persevere
And never give into fear.
For they say success is always found
Little by little, we gain ground
Over and over, we keep moving on
Until we see our obstacles gone.
Poems about Perseverance and Success
If a person feels he can achieve something but lacks the attribute of persistence, he will almost certainly fail. Because each stage of life needs perseverance and devotion. Here are some poems on perseverance and success that you should definitely check out.
1. If
by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream, and not make dreams your master;
If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so, hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And, which is more, you’ll be a Man, my son!
2. Success
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
We have not wings, we cannot soar;
But we have feet to scale and climb
By slow degrees, by more and more,
The cloudy summits of our time.
The mighty pyramids of stone
That wedge-like cleave the desert airs,
When nearer seen and better known,
Are but gigantic flights of stairs.
The distant mountains, that uprear
Their solid bastions of the skies,
Are crossed by pathways that appear
As we to higher levels rise.
The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.
3. Find A Way
by John G. Saxe
It was a noble Roman,
In Rome’s imperial day,
Who heard a coward croaker?
Before the castle say,
“They’re safe in such a fortress;
There is no way to shake it!”
“On! On!” exclaimed the hero,
“I’ll find a way, or make it!”
Is Fame your aspiration?
Her path is steep and high;
In vain you seek her temple,
Content to gaze and sigh:
The shining throne is waiting,
But he alone can take it,
Who says, with Roman firmness,
“I’ll find a way, or make it!”
Is Learning your ambition?
There is no royal road;
Alike the peer and peasant
Must climb to her abode;
Who feels the thirst for knowledge?
In Helicon may slake it,
If he has still the Roman will,
To “find a way, or make it!”
Are riches worth the getting?
They must be bravely sought;
With wishing and with fretting,
The boon cannot be bought;
To all the prize is open,
But only he can take it,
Who says, with Roman courage,
“I’ll find a way, or make it!”
4. The Dreamer
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Temples he built and palaces of air,
And, with the artist’s parent-pride aglow,
His fancy saw his vague ideals grow
Into creations marvelously fair;
He set his foot upon Fame’s nether stair.
But ah, his dream, —it had entranced him so
He could not move. He could no farther go;
But paused in joy that he was even there!
He did not wake until one day there gleamed
Thro’ his dark consciousness a light that racked
His being till he rose, alert to act.
But lo! what he had dreamed, the while he dreamed,
Another, wedding action unto thought,
Into the living, pulsing world had brought.
5. A Thousand to One
by Berton Braley
There’s a thousand “Can’t-be-done-ers”
For the one who says “It can!”
But the whole amount of deeds that count
Is done by the latter clan.
For the “Can’t-be-done-ers” grumble,
And hamper, oppose and doubt,
While the daring man who says “It can!”
Proceeds to work it out.
There isn’t a new invention
Beneath the shining sun,
That was ever wrought by the deed or thought
Of the tribe of “Can’t-be-done.”
For the “Can’t-be-done-ers” mutter
While the “Can-be’s” cool, sublime,
Make their “notions” work till the others smirk.
“Oh, we knew it all the time!”
“Oh, the “Can-be’s” clan is meager,
Its membership is small,
And it’s mighty few who see their dreams come true
Or hear fame’s trumpet call;
But it’s better to be a “Can-be,”
And labor and dream—and die,
Than one who runs with the “Can’t-be-done’s”
Who haven’t the pluck to try.
6. Can’t
by Edgar Guest
Can’t is the worst word that’s written or spoken;
Doing more harm here than slander and lies;
On it is many a strong spirit broken,
And with it many a good purpose die.
It springs from the lips of the thoughtless each morning
And robs us of courage we need through the day:
It rings in our ears like a timely-sent warning
And laughs when we falter and fall by the way.
Can’t is the father of feeble endeavor,
The parent of terror and half-hearted work;
It weakens the efforts of artisans clever,
And makes of the toiler an indolent shirk.
It poisons the soul of the man with a vision,
It stifles in infancy many a plan;
It greets honest toiling with open derision
And mocks at the hopes and the dreams of a man.
Can’t is a word none should speak without blushing;
To utter it should be a symbol of shame;
Ambition and courage it daily is crushing;
It blights a man’s purpose and shortens his aim.
Despise it with all of your hatred of error;
Refuse it the lodgment it seeks in your brain;
Arm against it as a creature of terror,
And all that you dream of you someday shall gain.
Can’t is the word that is foe to ambition,
An enemy ambushed to shatter your will;
Its prey is forever the man with a mission
And bows but to courage and patience and skill.
Hate it, with hatred that’s deep and undying,
For once it is welcomed ’twill break any man;
Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying
And answer this demon by saying: “I can.”
7. Doors of Daring
by Henry Van Dyke
The mountains that enfold the vale
With walls of granite, steep and high,
Invite the fearless foot to scale
Their stairway toward the sky.
The restless, deep, dividing sea
That flows and foams from shore to shore,
Calls to its sunburned chivalry,
“Push out, set sail, explore!”
And all the bars at which we fret,
That seem to prison and control,
Are but the doors of daring, set
Ajar before the soul.
Say not, “Too poor,” but freely give;
Sigh not, “Too weak,” but boldly try,
You never can begin to live
Until you dare to die.
8. Don’t Give Up
by Jeff Bresee
We wait for what we long for.
We long for what we need.
Impatience and anxiety
Give root to errant deed,
Which grows to yield but heartache,
The fruit that poisons trust,
And so, to shadow we recede
And hope descends to dust.
But somehow from the ashes
The will to try again
Doth mend the heart
And forge the path
In search of that one friend
Who never will betray us,
Who never will go astray?
But fear still lurks upon the thought
While waiting for that day.
We’ll simply stumble once again,
For we know not who to trust,
Thus, thoughts become an enemy,
But conquer them we must.
For surely there is someone
Whether “Shining Knight” or “Bride.”
Then all shall have been worth it,
Our “Last Hope” justified.
9. The Time Is Now Bettina Van Vaerenbergh
by Anonymous
We have but a short time
On this earth,
So, value your life
For what it’s really worth.
Your life has purpose.
God sent you on a mission.
To live, to love, to learn –
Is His commission.
The world needs you.
Believe me, it’s true!
Some things need doing
That only you can do.
Character matters;
Be your own person,
Your own original self,
Not someone else’s version.
Develop your talents;
They are unique.
Use your time well;
Listen only to positive critique.
Go after your dreams.
Be bold. Be brave.
Swim against the stream;
It’s more than okay.
The time is now
To find your passion.
Time waits for no one,
So, get into action.
To be free of regret
In your old age,
Never ever forget
To fully live today!
10. Be the Best of Whatever You Are
by Douglas Malloch
If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley — but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.
If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can’t be a muskie then just be a bass —
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,
There’s something for all of us here,
There’s big work to do, and there’s lesser to do,
And the task you must do is the nearby.
If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun, be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail —
Be the best of whatever you are!
Poems about Perseverance and Overcoming Challenges
Let us now go through some poems about perseverance and overcoming challenges. These poems will bring out the best in you despite the fact that you will face problems in life at any and every move you make.
These poems implore individuals not to give up and to strive hard in order to conquer any obstacles with self-belief.
1. Good Timber
by Douglas Malloch
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share?
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.
Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.
2. You Will Never See Me Fall
by Joyce Alcantara
You may see me struggle,
but you won’t see me fall.
Regardless if I’m weak or not,
I’m going to stand tall.
Everyone says life is easy,
but truly living it is not.
Times get hard,
people struggle
and constantly get put on the spot.
I’m going to wear the biggest smile,
even though I want to cry.
I’m going to fight to live,
even though I’m destined to die.
And even though it’s hard
and I may struggle through it all,
you may see me struggle…
but you will NEVER see me fall.
3. See It Through
by Edgar Guest
When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!
Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!
4. You Could Have Given Up
by S.C. Lourie
You could have given up,
but you kept on going.
You could have seen obstacles,
but you called them adventures.
You could have called them weeds,
but instead, you called them wildflowers.
You could have died a caterpillar,
but you fought on to be a butterfly.
You could have denied yourself goodness,
but instead, you chose to show
yourself self-love. You could have defined
yourself by the dark days, but instead
through them you realized your light.
5. Climb Every Mountain
by Eric R. Harvey
We all have a massive mountain to climb,
Especially those who’ve lost someone dear.
But climb that big mountain, we surely must,
If we are going to overcome fear.
Everyone’s got a big mountain to climb,
All those with an incurable illness.
Each step on that rocky, dangerous climb
Gets you nearer to an inner stillness.
Each of us have a big mountain to climb.
It might well be just a family rift,
But you must begin to climb that mountain
Because families are a God given gift.
Everyone’s got their own mountain to climb.
It could be something you just can’t accept,
But you must sort it out, make it good now,
Or you’ll never take that first tiny step.
We all have a great big mountain to climb.
We walk the same path that our fathers trod,
But when you’ve ascended and reached the top,
Then surely, you will be nearer to your God.
6. Inner Strength
by John P.
It’s only through mistakes we make
We learn where we went wrong.
It’s only when we’re far from home
We realize where we belong.
It’s only when we close our eyes
Our dreams seem clear and bright.
It’s only in our darkest hours
We truly see the light.
It’s only when we lose our way
We pray to the stars above.
It’s only through times of grief
We learn the true meaning of love.
It’s only when all hope seems lost
And our weary journey seems so far,
When all the world’s against you,
We learn how strong we really are.
All things are sent to try us.
We must strive and give our best.
I believe God is watching over us,
And he guides us in our quest.
7. Your Wounds
by Lauren Jarvis-Gibson
Time doesn’t heal wounds
to make you forget.
It doesn’t heal wounds to
erase the memories.
Time leaves you with a scar
to remind you of how you fought through it.
Time leaves you with a scar
to remind you of how you bled
and how you survived.
You survived.
8. I Will Prevail
by Phil Harris
I have been told that I will never exceed.
I have been told that I am living in a dream.
I have been pushed to the side by many of my peers.
I have heard of the struggles that were present before me.
I have heard others speak of the struggles they were presented with.
I have accepted I can’t change everything in my life.
I know the things that can be changed will take time.
I have watched many come and fall.
I have seen those who have raised to riches fall to pennies.
I have started a goal.
I have told myself that I will prevail.
I have seen the evil in life.
I have once been a victim to this life.
I have learned that the only thing that can hold you back in life is living for the past.
I refuse to give up without a try.
I refuse to let anyone tell me that I can’t reach the sky.
I refuse to live for today.
I will always prepare for tomorrow, even though it is not guaranteed.
I will refuse to allow anyone to change my heart.
I believe that God will lead me to a higher place.
I believe that change has been accepted for my life.
I believe that someone is watching over me.
I will prevail.
I apologize for the struggles others may have faced.
I refuse to allow myself wait.
I know that many have never received an apology for the struggles they have faced.
I hope that you accept this from me as I am speaking through them to you.
I know that for many of you this is the reason
You have given in to the belief that you can’t exceed.
I will continue through the obstacles that step in my way.
I will ask for guidance every day.
I will not give up.
I will not give in.
I will not look back.
I will not expect that this is all my life is meant to be.
I will continue.
I will prevail.
9. Time to Stop Struggling
by Tanya
Life is unfair; sometimes the misery we can’t bear.
This was a feeling I could never share.
I am strong, strong enough to move on from this pain.
I won’t feel the shame; my life is not a game.
Tired of these tears and my fears,
I will cherish my inspirations.
I will find my dream, I promise; that’s what I will achieve.
I will find a way to leave.
I’m not who you will deceive.
I believe in miracles; these people laugh like it’s hysterical.
I won’t fall; I may be lost, but I will be found.
One day I will find the perfect life; life will run beautifully,
I will fly like a butterfly through the night, will have a pleasant sight.
Afraid but I will fight.
No boundaries, free my mind of all the pressure.
Leaving here will be my pleasure.
I want so much to be free; so much I want to see.
I want to reach the sky; I want so badly to fly.
See, I used to be a fool when I let you treat me cruel.
I made a mistake, but I won’t let myself break.
Leave me, for God’s sake.
So now I kneel down to pray.
For these times of struggle, I will just say,
I’ll leave in your hands, God. I will let go.
10. On Adversity
by Joydip Dutt
Adversity brings out the best in you
It often helps to find something new –
A hidden talent or clears a doubt
Or you understand what life’s about
Adversity nourishes you to become strong
It helps to reach where you truly belong
Adversity makes you tough and wise
It shows where your strength lies
Adversity is nothing but a stepping stone
To a path that seems rugged and unknown
But if you let courage be your guide,
And can take things on your stride,
Don’t get dejected and continue to fight.
In the end, you’ll see hope and light.
Poems about Perseverance and Hope
The writers in these poems about hope and perseverance are attempting to motivate individuals who’ve already lost hope in life. They reassure us that nothing is unattainable in this world. Obstacles are a natural part of life, and when we conquer them, we shall reach the pinnacle of achievement.
1. Hope is the Thing with Feathers
by Emily Dickinson
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
2. God’s Love
by Charles S Mortson
When God created you
He knew what he would see
Someone that wasn’t perfect
Or in heaven you would be.
He put you here on earth
To lead this life, you live
Learning as you go
Giving what you can give.
He knew that you would stumble
And sometimes even fall
He knew that you would suffer
And in Jesus Christ you’d call.
Mistakes and bad decisions
He knew that you would make
To live and learn from them
Sometimes more than you can take.
He’s had a plan for you
From the very first day
Frustrating times will be
But soon you’ll see his way.
Love, hope, and faith
He’ll give this all to you
Patience please my friend
How only if you knew.
The love you have inside you
All the good that you do
This does not go unnoticed
And he shall see it too.
He’ll carry you if he needs to
And hold you when you pray
He knows the pain you carry
Each and every day.
What’s brought you to your knees
Some gave up on you
God will only keep around
The ones that see it through.
One day you will see
What I’ve been telling you
The love that he’s been saving
He created it just for you.
3. Mover of Mountains
by Helen Steiner Rice
Faith is a force that is greater
than knowledge or power or skill,
And the darkest defeat turns to triumph
if you trust in God’s wisdom and will,
For faith is a mover of mountains —
there’s nothing man cannot achieve
If he has the courage to try it
and then has the faith to believe.
4. On Perseverance for Success
by Dr John Celes
Who says that things cannot be done?
Nothing’s impossible on earth;
Most things are possible under the sun;
But perseverance should be thine friend!
The one who gives up with ease is a fool!
The wise person labors with determination;
Yet, one must choose the things that one can do,
And go full steam ahead, till comes success.
Perseverance is the secret of success;
By continual toil, failures can be avoided;
Great things were done by burning mid-night’s oil!
“The toiler harvests best of fruits in life.”
5. Perseverance
by Anne Stortz
When all the world is looming dark
And things seem not so clear,
When shadows seem to hover ’round
Lord, may I persevere.
When it seems, everything’s been tried
And there’s no way to go,
Just let me keep remembering
Sometimes the journey’s slow.
I may just need to stop and rest
Along the path I trod,
A time to try to understand
And have my talk with God.
As I gain new strength to carry on
Without a doubt or fear,
Somehow, I know things will be right,
And so, I persevere.
6. Trouble but Not Defeat
by Byron Pulsifer
Underneath our feet we find
Those branches and thorns a grind.
Why is so life so mean
It is as if no other scene.
Through life, you know, you will find
We sometimes just close our minds.
Those solutions we so desperately want
All appear like yesterday’s many tyrants.
But, do not trouble or be dismayed
There are good days on the way.
When you look beyond the norm
You’ll find you need not conform.
Be bold, be happy, be confident
You are not meant to lament.
These things so sure today
Can vanish without delay.
So, when trouble comes your way
Do not accept defeat and ruin your day
Move forward with a focused view
Stay positive in all you do.
7. Embracing All
by Anonymous
Light that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy majesty
Show me thy gaze
Teach me thy ways
That I am better person may be
Darkness that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy mystery
Show me thy gaze
Teach me thy ways
That I a better person may be
Love that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy unity
Let me be thy gaze
Let me teach thy ways
That I am better person may be
8. Less Afraid
by Anonymous
And then I realized
that to be
more alive
I had to
be less
afraid
so
I did it…
I lost my
fear
and gained
my whole life.
9. Look Well to This Day
by Kalidasa
Look well to this day,
For it and it alone is life.
In its brief course
Lie all the essence of your existence:
The Glory of Growth
The Satisfaction of Achievement
The Splendor of Beauty
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is but a vision.
But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
10. Promise Yourself
by The Optimist International
Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can
disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to
every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel like there is
something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your
optimism comes true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best,
and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the
greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give
every living person you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
Poems about Perseverance for Students
Let us now take a look at some poems about perseverance for students. Students face many setbacks in their life. And sometimes they look for ways to stay on track. Here are some perseverance poems for students that will provide them with necessary dose of motivation.
1. Effort
by Edgar A. Guest
He brought me his report card from the teacher and he said
He wasn’t very proud of it and sadly bowed his head.
He was excellent in reading, but arithmetic, was fair,
And I noticed there were several “unsatisfactory” there;
But one little bit of credit which was given brought me joy—
He was “excellent in effort,” and I fairly hugged the boy.
“Oh, it doesn’t make much difference what is written on your card,”
I told that little fellow, “if you’re only trying hard.
The ‘very goods’ and ‘excellent’ are fine, I must agree,
But the effort you are making means a whole lot more to me;
And the thing that’s most important when this card is put aside
Is to know, in spite of failure, that to do your best you’ve tried.
“Just keep excellent in effort—all the rest will come to you.
There isn’t any problem but some day you’ll learn to do,
And at last, when you grow older, you will come to understand
That by hard and patient toiling men have risen to command
And some day you will discover when a greater goals at stake
That better far than brilliance is the effort you will make.”
2. I Will Be Worthy of It
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
I may not reach the heights I seek,
My untried strength may fail me;
Or, half-way up the mountain peak,
Fierce tempests may assail me.
But though that place I never gain,
Herein lies comfort for my pain—
I will be worthy of it.
I may not triumph in success,
Despite my earnest labor;
I may not grasp results that bless
The efforts of my neighbor;
But though my goal I never see
This thought shall always dwell with me—
I will be worthy of it.
The golden glory of Love’s light
May never fall on my way;
My path may always lead through night,
Like some deserted by-way;
But though life’s dearest joy I miss
There lies a nameless strength in this—
I will be worthy of it.
3. Never Despair
by William Smith O’Brien
Never despair! Let the feeble in spirit
Bow like the willow that stoops to the blast.
Droop not in peril! ’T is manhood’s true merit
Nobly to struggle and hope to the last.
When by the sunshine of fortune forsaken
Faint sinks the heart of the feeble with fear,
Stand like the oak of the forest—unshaken,
Never despair—Boys—oh! never despair.
Never despair! Though adversity rages,
Fiercely and fell as the surge on the shore,
Firm as the rock of the ocean for ages,
Stem the rude torrent till danger is o’er.
Fate with its whirlwind our joys may all sever,
True to ourselves, we have nothing to fear.
Be this our hope and our anchor for ever—
Never despair—Boys—oh! never despair.
4. No Time Like the Present
by Phoebe Cary
If you’re told to do a thing,
And mean to do it really,
Never let it be by halves;
Do it fully, freely.
Do not make a poor excuse,
Waiting, weak, unsteady;
All obedience worth the name
Must be prompt and ready.
If you’re told to learn a task,
And you should begin it,
Do not tell your teacher, “Yes,
I’m coming in a minute.”
Waste not moments nor your words
In telling what you could do
Some other time; the present is
For doing what you should do.
5. Failure
by George Eliot
Failure after long perseverance is
much grander than never to
have a striving good enough
to be called a failure.
6. Success in Life
by Webster
If you wish success in life
Make perseverance your bosom friend,
Experience your wise counselor,
Caution your elder brother
And hope your guardian genius.
7. Perseverance
by Anonymous
The pine that stands upon the wooded mountain
Gains not in stature in a single day;
The noble river springs not from one fountain,
But gathers up its strength along its way.
The aloe hears for years the autumn’s dirges,
Before it shows its blossoms to the skies;
The coral reef, that breaks the ocean’s surges,
Through centuries of growth alone can rise.
Thus, through her works, Dame Nature offers ever
For our acceptance one persistent thought:
’Tis but by patient, sturdy, brave endeavor,
The greatest, best, and grandest things are wrought.
8. Perseverance
by Anonymous
It’s the coward who quits to misfortune,
‘Tis the knave who changes each day,
‘Tis the fool who wins half the battle,
Then throws all his chances away.
There is little life but labor.
And the morning may find that a dream;
Success is the bride of endeavor,
And luck but a meteor’s gleam.
The time to succeed is when others,
Discouraged, show traces of tire;
The battle is fought in the home-stretch,
And won twixt the flag and the wire.
9. Never Stop Being You
by Terrie Brushette
Never stop caring about the little things in life.
Never stop dreaming, and don’t give into strife.
Never stop wondering are we on our own.
Never stop thinking has your spirituality grown.
Never stop building bridges that lead to better tomorrows.
Never stop trying, and don’t give into sorrow.
Never stop feeling amazed at the beauty that surrounds you.
Never stop hearing the music, and don’t give into the blues.
Never stop pushing away negative thoughts that make you feel sad.
Never stop looking at all the miracles we have had.
Never stop loving the ones you hold dear.
Never stop giving, and don’t give into the fear.
Never stop smiling, but look forward to each new day.
Never stop shining in your own special way.
Never forget that all storms will clear.
Remember brighter tomorrows are always near.
10. Circle of Life
by Carly Nasch
Life is a carousel, always going forward, never going back.
Existence is a hard thing to keep when you stop trying.
To live a life, you must want to live.
To want to live you must find a way.
When all hope is lost, you must stand tall.
When all others retreat, you must prevail.
You are the conscience inside your head.
You create your own destiny.
Life is a very hard thing to keep
When your life does not always go the way, you plan.
Fight for your life and the right to keep dreaming.
If you feel you were gifted, share your gift.
If you feel you were cursed, fix it.
As you get older, your life becomes a challenge.
Who are you?
What do you want in life?
What will you be?
What is your purpose in life?
If you worry, these things will turn into burdens.
But if you hold on to them in the back of your mind,
All of the answers will come in time.
Life is a carousel, always going forward, never going back.
Look to the future, not to the past.
Poems about Perseverance in Life
These poems about perseverance in life remind us that we should not be concerned with things like what will happen in the future. Instead, he must have confidence in God and persevere in the face of adversity.
1. Ideals
by Helen Steiner Rice
Remember that ideals
are like stars up in the sky,
You can never really reach them,
hanging in the heavens high …
But like the mighty mariner
who sailed the storm-tossed sea,
And used the stars to chart his course
with skill and certainty,
You too can chart your course in life
with high ideals and love,
For high ideals are like the stars
that light the sky above …
You cannot ever reach them,
but lift your heart up high
And your life will be as shining
as the stars up in the sky.
2. No Excuses, No Regrets
by Frederick Douglas Harper
There is no substitute
For hard work;
There is no replacement
Of time lost;
There is no time for regrets
About mistakes made,
Or excuses for failure
Of responsibility or duty;
There is no explanation for
Blindness to beautiful things
Or love gone unexpressed;
There is no time
For excuses,
There is no time
For regrets.
3. Never Borrow Sorrow from Tomorrow
by Helen Steiner Rice
Deal only with the present —
never step into tomorrow,
For God asks us just to trust Him
and to never borrow sorrow,
For the future is not ours to know,
and it may never be,
So let us live and give our best
and give it lavishly. . .
For to meet tomorrow’s troubles
before they are even ours
Is to anticipate the Savior
and to doubt His all-wise powers,
So let us be content to solve
our problems one by one,
Asking nothing of tomorrow
except “Thy will be done.”
4. Hidden Mystery
by Fred Burks
In the deepest depths of you and me
In the deepest depths of we
Lies the most beautiful jewel
Shining forth eternally
Within that precious jewel
Within that priceless piece of we
Lies a time beyond all time
Lies a place beyond all space
Within that sacred source of radiance
Lies a love beyond all love
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Ever so patiently
Waiting for you, waiting for me
Waiting patiently for all to see
The beauty that is you inside of me
The beauty that is me inside of thee
In the deepest depths of you and me
In the deepest depths of we
Lies the love and wisdom
Of all Eternity
5. Things You Can Control
by Caleb LP Gunner
Your Beliefs
Your attitude
Your thoughts
Your perspective
How honest you are
Who your friends are?
What books you read
How often you exercise
The type of food you eat
How many risks you take?
How you interpret the situation
How kind you are to others
How kind you are to yourself
How often you say “I love you.”
How often you say “thank you.”
How you express your feelings
Whether or not you ask for help
How often you practice gratitude
How many times you smile today?
The amount of effort you put forth
How you spend / invest your money
How much time you spend worrying?
How often you think about your past
Whether or not you judge other people
Whether or not you try again after a setback
How much you appreciate the things you have
6. Don’t Disrespect Yourself
by Shakira Wilkerson
Why are you disrespecting yourself girl?
Don’t you know you’re a pearl?
You’re a precious jewel,
Please honey, sweetie don’t be no fool!
Your body is a temple before the Lord.
Don’t mistreat it with harm.
Don’t disrespect yourself!
Don’t let no one slap you around and put you down.
Stand your ground and know who, and who’s you are.
You were created by the creator.
Fearfully and wonderfully made.
So don’t disrespect your self
Put a stop and an end to this way of living.
Cease from the pain, get away from it all girl.
Don’t let anyone disrespect you!
Don’t you know you’re a queen, a precious gem?
If not, take a look in the mirror
and see all the beauty which God have mad you to be.
So girl, sister, friend and all women around the world,
Don’t disrespect yourself!
7. How When Where
by John Oxenham
It is not so much WHERE you live,
As HOW, and WHY, and WHEN you live,
That answers in the affirmative,
Or maybe in the negative,
The question Are you fit to live?
It is not so much WHERE you live,
As HOW you live, and whether good
Flows from you through your neighborhood.
And WHY you live, and whether you
Aim high and noblest ends pursue,
And keep Life brimming full and true.
And WHEN you live, and whether Time
Is at its nadir or its prime,
And whether you descend or climb.
It is not so much WHERE you live,
As whether while you live you live
And to the world your highest give,
And so, make answer positive
That you are truly fit to live.
8. Opportunity
by Berton Braley
With doubt and dismay, you are smitten
You think there’s no chance for you, son?
Why, the best books haven’t been written
The best race hasn’t been run,
The best score hasn’t been made yet,
The best song hasn’t been sung,
The best tune hasn’t been played yet,
Cheer up, for the world is young!
No chance? Why the world is just eager
For things that you ought to create
Its store of true wealth is still meagre
Its needs are incessant and great,
It yearns for more power and beauty
More laughter and love and romance,
More loyalty, labor and duty,
No chance–why there’s nothing but chance!
For the best verse hasn’t been rhymed yet,
The best house hasn’t been planned,
The highest peak hasn’t been climbed yet,
The mightiest rivers aren’t spanned,
Don’t worry and fret, faint hearted,
The chances have just begun,
For the Best jobs haven’t been started,
The Best work hasn’t been done.
9. You Cannot Change
by Brian Tracy
You cannot change the world,
But you can present the world with one improved person – Yourself.
You can go to work on yourself to make yourself
Into the kind of person, you admire and respect.
You can become a role model and set a standard for others.
You can control and discipline yourself to resist acting
Or speaking in a negative way toward anyone for any reason.
You can insist upon always doing things the loving way,
Rather than the hurtful way.
By doing these things each day, you can continue on your journey
Toward becoming an exceptional human being.
10. It Takes Courage
by Anonymous
It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.
Final Thoughts on Poems about Perseverance
Life might be difficult, but if you know how to persevere, these poems about perseverance can appeal to your battling spirit. Do you know someone who might use some encouragement to keep strong?
Please share these perseverance poems with them right away! Perseverance is the unwavering pursuit of accomplishment and achievement of one’s objectives. You succeed not by merely attempting, but by enduring.
It’s simple to say, “I can do it.” Those who persist, on the other hand, don’t simply say it; they do it and experience it. These poems about perseverance urge you to do more than just talk about it; they also motivate you to live your life with a winning attitude every day.
In these poems about perseverance and determination, the poets are attempting to encourage and urge you to continue to strive again and again until you reach your ambitions and objectives.
You really shouldn’t give up under any circumstances. Obstacles are a natural aspect of life. Be somebody who doesn’t fear and grows stronger as a result of adversity. Such a person will always triumph in life one day. What makes a significant difference in life is earning triumph after failure.
