Battler Joe Poem by Francis Duggan

They cannot go out for dinner as they are not doing well financially
On four hundred a week take home pay he must support his family
Of a wife and two young children a boy of four and a girl of three
And their home to the bank mortgaged they live close to poverty.

For Joe one of life's great battlers it's uphill all the way
He is one on a low income yet he has big bills to pay
For him it seems such a struggle to get by and make ends meet
Yet he is just one of many as battlers live on every street.

Life's a battle he will tell you and he is one who ought to know
For nothing in life does come easy to hard working Battler Joe
He works hard for every dollar for before tax ninety bucks a day
Yet the man feels ever hopeful things could be worse you hear him say.

One of society's unsung heroes he doesn't feel hard done by life
A loving father to his children and devoted to his wife
He is one who looks on the bright side and not one to seek sympathy
And for himself his wife and children a bright future he can see.

For one who struggles to make ends meet he seems happy and carefree
And he is not into self pity nor he doesn't say things like poor me
Men like him lead by example and the seeds of good karma sow
And he is one of life's great winners the hard working Battler Joe.