Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HOLD ON A WHILE, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS Poet's Biography First Line: When all the sky is very black Last Line: And -- just -- hold on -- a while. Subject(s): Patience | ||||||||
When all the sky is very black And all the earth is blue, And all the fiends are on your track And howling after you; When courage falls and hope decays And fair ambition dies, And all your dreamland is ablaze Beneath the ebon skies; When you would fain renounce the goal, Nor plod another mile, Oh, straighten up your drooping soul, And -- just -- hold on -- a while! Hold on a while! the darkest night May bring the fairest day. Hold on a while! the good, the right, Will always find a way. Hold on! for is Jehovah dead? His love an empty song? Hold on! have heaven's armies fled Before the hosts of wrong? Hold on! for still some strength remains, Nor yield you till you must; A newer life may flood your veins, Born of a larger trust. A newer life -- hold on for that! A lily from the mud! The greening peak of Ararat Emerging from the flood! The clouds are shattered by the sun; The earth is all aglow; Away the howling devils run, And back to hell they go! Hold on for that! Do what you can, Nor prove a craven elf; For heaven never helped a man Until he helped himself. And when your fondest hopes are dead And fate has ceased to smile, 'Tis then it pays to life your head And -- just -- hold on -- a while. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOD WAITS FOR THE WANDERING WORLD by LUCILLE CLIFTON A BATTLE SONG (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR) by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS |
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