Robert W. Service, 'Carry On!'

[duathir.livejournal.com]

Cross-post from war_poetry:

Carry On!

It's easy to fight when everything's right,
And you're mad with the thrill and the glory;
It's easy to cheer when victory's near,
And wallow in fields that are gory.
It's a different song when everything's wrong,
When you're feeling infernally mortal;
When it's ten against one, and hope there is none,
Buck up, little soldier, and chortle:

Carry on! Carry on!
There isn't much punch in your blow.
You're glaring and staring and hitting out blind;
You're muddy and bloody, but never you mind.
Carry on! Carry on!
You haven't the ghost of a show.
It's looking like death, but while you've a breath,
Carry on, my son! Carry on!

And so in the strife of the battle of life
It's easy to fight when you're winning;
It's easy to slave, and starve and be brave,
When the dawn of success is beginning.
But the man who can meet despair and defeat
With a cheer, there's the man of God's choosing;
The man who can fight to Heaven's own height
Is the man who can fight when he's losing.

Carry on! Carry on!
Things never were looming so black.
But show that you haven't a cowardly streak,
And though you're unlucky you never are weak.
Carry on! Carry on!
Brace up for another attack.
It's looking like hell, but -- you never can tell:
Carry on, old man! Carry on!

There are some who drift out in the deserts of doubt,
And some who in brutishness wallow;
There are others, I know, who in piety go
Because of a Heaven to follow.
But to labour with zest, and to give of your best,
For the sweetness and joy of the giving;
To help folks along with a hand and a song;
Why, there's the real sunshine of living.

Carry on! Carry on!
Fight the good fight and true;
Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;
There's big work to do, and that's why you are here.
Carry on! Carry on!
Let the world be the better for you;
And at last when you die, let this be your cry:
CARRY ON, MY SOUL! CARRY ON!

By Robert W. Service
(1916)

Comments

great poem

[pigshitpoet.livejournal.com]

wow!
sounds like trump to me...
carry on!
thank you

Re: great poem

[duathir.livejournal.com]

This poem was written during the First World War, long before Trump was born. You know I do not agree with your politics; you also know I will not discuss politics in this community.

RE: Re: great poem

[pigshitpoet.livejournal.com]

yep, agree to disagree
it's all about poetry to me
; )

For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.. - luke 8:17

[duathir.livejournal.com]

To me as well. I favor the poets of the Great War so much, not least because that war is more than a century over, and its issues as dead as the soldiers who fought for them.

yes, remembrance

[pigshitpoet.livejournal.com]

as the poem says, 'carry on!'
; )

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

Wow! I agree with the other comment here.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

I know Reagan was a big fan of this poem and he's almost as bad as the orange idiot.

[duathir.livejournal.com]

This poem was first published in 1916, during the First World War.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

yes, I know. Reagan's thinking belonged in world war one.

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

None worse thanTrump.

[duathir.livejournal.com]

I myself do not. This poem was first published in 1916, and was scheduled to post on this date more than a year ago.