When you're lost in the Wild, and you're scared as a child,
And Death looks you bang in the eye,
And you're sore as a boil, it's according to Hoyle
To cock your revolver and . . . die.
But the Code of a Man says: "Fight all you can,"
And self-dissolution is barred.
In hunger and woe, oh, it's easy to blow . . .
It's the hell-served-for-breakfast that's hard.
"You're sick of the game!" Well, now, that's a shame.
You're young and you're brave and you're bright.
"You've had a raw deal!" I know — but don't squeal,
Buck up, do your damnedest, and fight.
It's the plugging away that will win you the day,
So don't be a piker, old pard!
Just draw on your grit; it's so easy to quit:
It's the keeping-your-chin-up that's hard.
It's easy to cry that you're beaten — and die;
It's easy to crawfish and crawl;
But to fight and to fight when hope's out of sight —
Why, that's the best game of them all!
And though you come out of each gruelling bout,
All broken and beaten and scarred,
Just have one more try — it's dead easy to die,
It's the keeping-on-living that's hard.
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Comments
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Sir Douglas Mawson
From guest Jamie Sutton (contact)
One of the greatest Antarctic explorers and a man who endured the most remarkabel survival experiences ever, relied on and quoted to himsefl this tract to keep himself going. Facing starvation, unseen crevases in polar glaciers and the skin separating from the soles of his feet, he never the less fought on and survived, repeating to himself, "Buck up! Do you damnedest and fight: It's the plugging away that will win you the day." 600 miles across the worst terrain then know to man, alone and pulling a sled after his 2 companions had died as had his 12 sleddogs, Mawson fell into a crevass and dangling 18 feet above eternity, he recalled this Robert Service text, pulled himself up the rope and finally arrived at the coastal hut and his remaining companions. Read "Mawson's Will" by Lennard Bickel. Avon Books 1977 -
Truth
From guest Marie (contact)
His last stanza when he says "Its dead easy to die, its the keeping on living thats hard" is very true. I know someone who seems to have been soul mates with Murphys Law and always has bad luck. But to this day, even in the blackest day they still get up out of bed, if only to say that the world can't keep them down. If that was me I would have lost hope long ago. So yes. It is dead easy to die, the hardest part is keeping on living -
Just the feel of the first part is sardonically clever. I mean, the suggestion that leads up to the 4th line of 'it's hopeless just kill yourself' is wicked. But, then it gets ruined by ease of the next line saying that basically it isn't in 'man' to do such a thing and that, we, being 'man' always has to fight or conquer - whatever. But, then the last line, kind of punches 'man' in the face and the 'to cock your revolver and....die.' scenario doesn't look so bad.
I like this line in the next part 'So don't be a piker, old pard!' I mean, even before it gets to the ending of the 2cd part, it is clear it is stating don't be a 'quitter' thus the title I suppose. But, that last line, 'It's the keeping-your-head-up that's hard.' is so true for most people. Or all people in some situation or not.
I really don't like the opening of the first line of the last part. It seems to be too much in one line and then breaks off. I get the line, but, I feel it could have been worded different for a better effect.
Then you have the last two lines to sum up the entire piece. And again, a story told, with an educational message getting punched in peoples faces.
Just to wonder tho, I doubt they would listen. There will always be quitters.
A good piece written by Service, the first part is just great, the second part is good but the beginning of the third lacks what the rest of the piece has.
None-the-less tho, good piece.
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