"Don't Quit"

When I was a child, at the top of our stairs was a plaque with a poem called "Don't Quit." As I recall, the plaque was made of brass with black enamel lettering. I used to say the poem as fast as I could, trying to say the whole thing before I reached the fourteenth (and final) step. The author's name was listed on the plaque, but all I can recall is Edgar or Edward. Today I GOOGLEd to learn his name, but the poem is attributed to "Anonymous" or "Unknown" on every site I looked at.

People often ask me how I've endured all the experiences I've had. I usually tell them "you do what you have to do." Now I'm thinking this poem had a profound impact on my way of thinking and looking at life. I hope it influences you in a positive way. -- Ginger

"Don't Quit"

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're 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 don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about,
When you might have won, had you stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worse that you must not quit!