Hitherto Poem by johannes lewinsky

‘Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent'. Calvin Coolidge



Hitherto have i been as a bark
on the ocean of my life
Tossed hither and thither about
Apparently without

Sense direction or intent
For all that i have sought
Sense direction and intent

I cannot will what i am not
And will not give
nor relinquish this
this Will that i have
to break the will of all that would
come between this me and it

for now it is that i am immersed
full in and am and cannot out
for all that i might reach and wish
that i was neither engaged nor in
and this is all it's all about

and is for this
that we must linger still
and here reach out
beyond this am or given was


And now that i must
Keep with it must
And swimming must
Against the tide and
Upstream must
For all that i am worth

And will because
It is my will
That this i here deliver

And nothing is
Of any consequence but
Whatever exigencies will
That this my will will be
to fulfil and must