What's Worse? Poem by Josh Alfred

What's worse, as worse as this?
Check the marks upon thy list.

To hunger, but no food?
To thirst, but no water?

Could not the day be darker?
Could not the way be harder?
Could not the path be rougher
And the obstacles that much tougher?

What worse, is worst to be,
To live with just remorse and pity?
To live baring only harshness
To wander only in the darkness?

To dread, and not to hope
To give up on a short rope
Do not, and this do never
From the life force severe.

Save this, to this be true
As you wane you shall wax
Each woe shall find its tax
And the hardest woe will undo.

Give not your sense to mere defeat
Stand on the grave beneath your feet
Go with the wave, flow with the stream
Not all nightmares shall you dream.