Notes About The Poem

Written 25 July 2026 for Inspirational Phrases and what they mean to us Poetry Contest of Natasha Scragg

Syllable count checked on howmanysyllables.com>syllable_counter

Inspiring Quotes

Inspiring Quotes Used:
"Fall seven times and stand up eight" ~ old proverb
"If the wind will not serve, take the oars" ~ Latin Proverb

My own inspiring words start with ~
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I ”fall seven times and stand up eight”, bold
As lessons I`ve learnt from previous falls,
A story that lies deep hidden, untold,
Perhaps worth from drawer`s dust to recall.

First time I fall aground and kiss the dust,
Second time my shadow drifts in the hall,
Third and fourth time, my face meets the brown rust   
As I stumble backward against the wall.

Fifth and sixth time,  the rain begins to pour,
 I ask myself, to rise why not I try,
As I crawl on the tiled slippery  floor,
With silent shining surface where I lie.
  
The seventh fall  is profound, sharp and long,
It takes my breath and dims  my inner light,
It tells me that the path is surely wrong
And shrouds the heart in grey clouds of the night.

But at the eighth fall, fingers grip the stone,
The lean shoulder pulls and rises again,
It is not meant to face the dark alone,
It carries will, that surpasses the pain.

~Inner will is a tranquil turning tide,
A breath of air that moves inside the lung;
With nothing left for broken hearts to hide,
The hymn of the soul is finally sung.

~I rise as the earth is not yet my grave,
~I rise  as the spirit does not retire,
The lesson is the courage that I save
To kindle once again the hidden fire.

So, I stand on feet that before did fail
And look toward the morning turning gold;
The wind can lash and rain can surely hail
But I am stronger than the story told.

The same lesson spins when sailing the sea,
The vast expanse holds no breeze on a day,
In midst of the ocean I make a plea
To the breeze to drive my boat homeward way.

Alas, silence of the deaf still prevails,
The distant clouds rest on the azure deep,
No cool or warm wind waltzes on the sails
While all the restless waters fall to sleep.

"If the wind will not serve, take the oars”, tight,
I recall learning in my Latin class;
So I pick up the sculls with much delight,
Row with relentless rhythm, watch the boat pass.

Each pull cuts through the warm waves of the sea,
Leaving a fading, jagged line behind;
The path is mine alone for me  to see,
The goal is a familiar land to find.

The oars are rough against my worn-out skin,
But my bold spirit brings  heat in my bone,
Though tough, the journey has somehow to spin
And I must face the distance on your own.

With a bold spirit and a shining will
I row and row until I reach the shore,
Same as after seven falls I rise still,
Learning the lessons of lore evermore.

~With a shining will, heavy loads turn light,
~With bold spirit, there`s no sea one can`t sail,
~The inner self shows the path that is right,
~With heaven`s grace and one`s will one can`t fail.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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Poet Avatar
August 2, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Krish, my friend, my heartfelt congrats on winning the contest. Your lovely poem, "Inspirational Quotes," was a delight to read. Your amazing imagery, as well as the incredible metaphor layers, create a strong emotional sensory experience that stays with the reader for a long time. The ending you wrote is really amazing.
Scragg Avatar
August 2, 2026 at 8:53 AM
I like the way you take us through the experience of the falls. But the pivot is where your inspiration clarifies itself "inner will is the tranquil turning tide...." the growth, the recovery can be subtle until "the hymn of the soul is finally sung" and then how you expand on the "oars" one feels like being with a sailor on rough seas taking the courage. I also love the way your penultimate verse ties your two chosen prompts together. And the light that is shone in your own inspirational phrases at the end is clear throughout your poem. Thank you for your brilliant entry Krishnanand. 😊👍
Jones Avatar
August 1, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Enjoyed your inspiring write. You’ve skillfully articulated a moving message! Good luck!
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