Dismay Not! Poem by Alex Koonthanam

If life seems a journey
Too weary to go on
If your road seems to be
Scattered with thorn and stone;

If your burden seem to be
Too heavy to carry
If your strength seem to be
Failing miserably;

If your friends seem to be
False and insincere;
If there not seem to be
None to quench your fear;

If there seem not to be
No haven here below
To shield you from Nature's rage
Or cruel destiny's blow;

If there seem not to be
A beam of benign light
To chase assailing foes,
And darkness of the night;

If you seem to be lost
Without a ray of hope
In life's vast desert
And for way around grope.

Do not dismay for your sort
Is not the worst of all
Look around, you will see
Folks bearing deeper fall.

Along the rugged path of life
You'll see struggling along
One legged or having no feet
Whistling a joyous song.

You'll see who bravely dare
Battle against all odds
Blindly trusting in self,
And in whatever gods.

You'll see whose day's as night
And night darker still,
Yet march on, clinging to their
Indomitable will.

You'll see all you want if
You gaze around to see;
You'll be a man, a hero
Only if you want to be!

Alex Koonthanam