Cleaning out the dusty basement is no fun except when you might unearth something almost 40 years old that resembles someones private diary. Whose is it? No signature! Its filled with lots of artwork, recipes, poems, personal stuff that still doesnt give away the owner. And then this poem entitled, "You Mustnt Quit" emerges.
Hmm! Why did I find this diary today? Maybe for some mystical reason? Maybe by reprinting "You Mustnt Quit" it will save some frustrated, beaten down person from throwing in the towel when there might still be chance to survive and later on thrive. Who said, "It isnt over till the fat lady sings?"
Lets see if this poem has a mystical message that might just give someone the extra incentive to stay the course, strive for maybe a new goal, or just have a little more faith in themselves and their own ability to win the battle. So
here it is: "You Mustnt Quit" written by Anon. "When things go wrong as they sometimes will, when the road youre trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh. When care is pressing you down a bit, rest if you must, but never quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns as every one of us sometimes learns. And many a failure turns about when he might have won had he held out. So dont give up though the pace seems slow. You may succeed with another blow. And often the blow is nearer then. It seems to a faint, faltering man often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the visitors cup. And he learned too late when night slipped down, how close he was to the golden crown."
Thats the end (or is it a beginning?) Oh, heres the name of the diary owner: Denise Boudrot. Thanks Denise!
Roland Hopkins is the founder of the New York Real Estate Journal, Norwell, Mass.
