Fight On Poem by Maurice Harris

Fight on, as though your life depended upon it,
Because it surely does-do not become a pawn-it
Is your singular vocation: to define 'you' to the world
As no one can be trusted by you, more than you;
Life is not as a book, first closed, then unfurled-
So, be all that you can be, and do all that you can do
To be the warrior you know dwells inside you;
No one is always there for you, besides you.
Rely upon yourself and never allow others to not.
Stand and deliver at all times, without a second thought,
Because life is far too short to cower in a corner
As life passes you by; know of what you are made
So that when you look back upon it, a mourner
You shan't be, but rather, proud of the foundation you laid
For all those whose lives you touched along the way.
When life knocks you down, get up, dust yourself off
And keep your head held high; be proud of who you are.
When it comes to standing for what is right, 'too far'
Is not a place you may go, nor a point at which to scoff.
You are 'the man in the mirror'; be proud of what you 'see'!
Always choose the 'right' when given a choice
Always 'speak' for those who are not given a voice;
Stand and be counted, when it matters the most-
Especially when you are scared, yet, do not boast
Of your deeds, even when they are righteous and pure.
The world is rife with 'cancers' and you can be the 'cure'!
Be not afeared, as His Righteous Might shall guide you-
Press on, though the battle may seem futile, stride through.
'When you were born, you cried, and others rejoiced'**;
Keep them rejoicing, with acts of courage and valor;
Allow the strength you gain, to push away the pallor
You'd otherwise suffer, if your concerns weren't voiced.
'Live your life so that when you die, you rejoice, and others cry.'**
Live this way from your earliest years, until the day you die!

**Native American proverbs

- Maurice Harris,23 August 2014