A New Year's Resolution Poem by John Thorkild Ellison

I want to get down to the nitty-gritty,
To face up to life devoid of self-pity!
Don't let me cringe or whimper or whine -
I want you to watch me, and at the first sign
Of weakness or sorrow (if I start to complain)
Remind me at once that pleasure and pain
Are merely two sides of the coin of Life,
We wouldn't know peace if it wasn't for strife!
I know very well that as I grow older
What could be described as a chip on my shoulder
Becomes more apparent with the passing of time
And bitterness creeps into my metre and rhyme -
Give me the wisdom to laugh and to smile
At my foibles and weakness and never revile
Imaginary gods or agents of grief
Nor run to the bottle to get my relief,
If I'm feeling depressed it may be my fault
For not taking life's blues with a pinch of salt -
I promise you now that I'll stop all this whining
And admit that the clouds have a real silver lining,
I'm saying goodbye to a habit of sorrow
And make a resolve that as from tomorrow
The good things of life will be praised in my verse
Since I cannot deny it could be a lot worse! !