Best When The Going Gets Tough Poems
CHALLENGES
By Edmund Siejka
He faced a challenge
That forced him to use all his abilities
But doubt clouded his judgement
Caution gave way to uncertainty.
Needing help
He recalled these words:
1. Believe in yourself
Never bend your head
Hold it high
And look the world straight in the eye.
2. Smell the coffee.
3. Stand on your own two legs.
4. Life is in front of you.
5. Seize the day.
6. Get up and get moving.
7. Work smarter, not harder.
8. Save for a rainy day.
9. The tough get going when the going gets tough.
10. K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid.
11. Put a glide in your stride and a pep in your step.
12. Let’s get moving, we’re burning daylight.
13. Don’t deter from the main effort.
14. Every strike brings you closer to the next home run.
15. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
16. Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.
17. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
18. Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, ‘I’m possible.’
19. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
20. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
21. The mind is everything. What you think you become.
22. The road to success is always under construction.
23. Becoming is better than being.
24. Nothing is interesting if you’re not interested.
25. Look at a half empty glass as half full.
26. Ambition can’t wait.
27. Age is of no importance unless you’re a cheese.
And last, but not least:
28. Wake the hell up.
They say education is the key.
A key that can open all closed doors.
A sharpener to our minds.
Provider of brighter life and expectations.
it's like a shining lamp in a dark world
even better than the shining stars in the sky
Different parts of the world,the key takes us there.
The key doesn't choose religion,race, tribe, class or where you come from.
You just see it and take it.
Grab it with your hands and don't let go.
Explore all parts of the key.
Understand its richness and wealth.
With various ingredients like maths, languages, sciences,
geography, engineering among others.
It makes you the most intellect in the world.
Greatest scientist, engineer, doctor, teacher, leader among many.
With the key:
You talk, they listen and understand.
That knowledge of the key is a weapon.
A weapon that can slush dragons into pieces.
The key is a healer of diseases.
A solution provider.
It aggrandizes unimaginable things never seen before.
The key is like a drug that never expires.
The greatest inheritance of a child.
To get the key is a process.
Step by step you learn.
Never give up when the going gets tough.
Don't stay down if you can get up.
Gather all your strength and move forward.
Wipe out the sweat and tears.
Don't lose focus keep going.
With hard work and discipline you will finish the race.
Sweeter than honey are it's fruits.
Who wouldn’t want this key?
I ask!
Go get the key and don’t look back.
There're fragrant flowers in full bloom
With colors radiant, vibrant, bright!
Pure joy exuding while you groom
Your first glimpse captures eyes filled with light
Finding delight in the wondrous, mysterious gift!
And though given for only a while, still, is alright
So dreams are built never imagining the rifts
As you nurture, guard and lead along the way
Help fulfill a purpose –others to uplift
Gentle pruning with care so they do not stray
Validate worth through kindness and care
For certain, one day petals will fall into disarray
And too soon, the sun will set and awaken fear
A time when the dreams lie forever silent; broken
Rest assure, beautiful spirits live forever, near
Alive in roots, like fine lace woven
The legacy of love leaves an unending trail
Yet, nailed in a place secure and proven
At home in your soul where it cannot be derailed
~*~
5/29/13
For Debbie's "When the Going Gets Tough the Tough Get Going" Contest
In this day and age that most of the things
tend to cause many of us to be haughty and callous.
That we cannot seem to bear with those things
because we simply do not like them.
This includes other people as well.
An innate in most human beings - to like and dislike.
We do not seem to like certain people because of
their dress, looks, sex, color, nationality, language,
conduct, size, skills or talents.
There is nothing much that we can do about,
other than to learn to live with it and them.
That is tolerance all about.
One thing we find hard to bear is criticism or correction.
Bear in mind that they are meant for our own good.
It's up to us to learn early in life to be lenient;
to bear with oppositions and corrections.
As the saying goes “There are no two people exactly alike
and both of them are glad about it”. The same holds true with
“when the going gets tough, the tough get going”, so let's not
fight opposition and use it to our advantage, instead.
Lastly, most of the things we cannot change are outside us.
We can only change what is inside us. That says a lot about
the good rules of life in the "Serenity Prayer".
04/20/16
An entry for
"Lyrics.Cliche.Image" contest
2nd placer
The revolution
Everybody has a limit , a time when enough is enough
You must fight for what you believe in ,even when the going gets tough
In the cold 25th in the midst of Jan
Stood every freedom fighting child , lady and man
The tyrannic dictator thought that he would last
He thought he could win this and end the revolution fast
30 years is along time , but everything must come to an end
For your voice you must fight , for your honor you must defend
1 day passed , he thought everyone would leave
But they stayed for day 2 , in that he did not believe
On the third day of the revolt , there came a cavalry attack
Camels , horses and donkeys to push the protestors back
Many lost their lives but their memories lived on
They lost their lives so the tyrants would be gone
They were used as a symbol for inspiration
They were used for hope in times of desperation
The police attacked but did not succeed
The people refused to fall to tyrannical greed
After weeks the system started to crumble
Patriotic chants would make the ground rumble
Until that faithful february day
When everyone listened to what the tyrants man had to say
The tyrant gave up the rebels thought they won
They thought it was over , they thought they were done
But the country got worse the job is not yet complete
The country is devastated and it's economy obsolete
We must continue on the fight to make a better land
We must no let this pass, we must all make a stand
For every martyr who gave their lives
Leaving behind their children and wives
We owe it to them to make their dream come true
To make Egypt better for me and for you
We must work harder than ever to restore our country's pride
We must bring happiness to all who have cried
We must better ourselves and take pride in our nation
To repair all of this devastation
We are all Egyptians we must all unite
We must push on and carry on the fight
So it does not matter what happens to me
We will not stop until Egypt is free
My Laptop has a name
Its Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2015)
Its life begins with a disk drive
It got various basic dialects such as C, FORTRAN, or Pascal
It has a random access memory without brain
I upgrade it when the going gets tough,
I hope my motherboard would find a fatherboard so I could have anotherboard
It house input and output devices without having a home
It performs specific operations like physicians
It use a touchpad instead of a house mouse,
If you want to go forward, backup
It can display information in a human understandable form
It got gates and windows?
It’s hardware problems are due to truck driver errors
Sometimes its program is so sick
I feel like shooting it and put it out of its memory
Output and Kaput
It defragmented my entire life
Because I find its faith in technology amusing
The operating table on my laptop is called facebook...
You’ve got to have faith, hope and love
This wonderful Glorious stuff
Faith, hope and love
When push comes to shove
Faith in your life when you need to fight
Love in your heart to make things right
Hope in your soul to achieve your goal
And these three things you sow, sow, sow
Yes
You’ve got to have faith, hope and love
Three gifts from God above
Faith, hope and love
These things in which you can trust
Faith in your life when things don’t go right
Love in your heart for a brand new start
Hope in your soul when you can’t control
And these three things you sow, sow, sow
Yes
You’ve got to have faith, hope and love
Joined together like a glove
Faith, hope and love
Even when the going gets Tough
Faith in your life for your children and wife
Love in your heart to bring your family up smart
Hope in your soul that you can still rock n roll
And these three things you sow, sow, sow
Yes
You’ve got to have faith, hope and love
Flying together like a dove
Faith, hope and love
Three beautiful things in us
© Copyright KC.Leake
2nd October 2015
All Rights Reserved
M-O-T-H-E-R
“M” is for all the material things she gave me
“O” means only she sees the real me
“T” is for tears she shed
“H” is for heartfelt words in time of need
“E” is for her emerald eyes, filled with love so indestructible;
“R” is for her remarkable perseverance when the going gets tough
Put them all together; it spells
‘MOTHER’
A job that has so much devotion, and evolvement is the hardest jobs of them all.
It's always the little things
That mean the most to people
Holding more value than all the money
In the bank; more of a treasure than
Any material thing one could possibly imagine
A genuine expression of love to a loved one
Like a bear hug, a blown kiss from afar
A simple warm greeting with a strong handshake
Wishing a stranger happy holidays, an apology
A reassuring smile, a wink, a good deed done
For someone, with no strings attached
A thoughtful gesture that lets the recipient
Know you care, such as a random act of kindness
A get well soon card to the sick, a recognition
A pat on the back for a job well done, saying thank you
A word of encouragement to keep up the good work
To keep soldiering on when the going gets tough
It's always the little things
That makes all the difference in the world
DECEMBER 2018,ANY FORM,ANY THEME,UPTO A MAX OF 20 lines
Sponsored by Brian Strand (Winner: 1st Place)
Date written and posted: 12/05/2018
Carpe Diem, seize the day
Live by the rules of the game you play
The world is your oyster, enjoy the ride
When the going gets tough, look on the bright side
Silence is golden, take that to the bank
Put that in your pipe while smoke screens draw blank
Though money makes the world go round
Speak louder through actions than through sound
Empty vessels make the most noise
Best medicine, laughter, daily poise
Fool me once means shame on you
Shame on me, that’s fooled times two
Follow your heart, reach for the stars
Dreams come true, firefly jars
A bird in hand is worth two in a bush
When push comes to shove, shove comes to push
A stitch in time always saves nine
As luck still favors prepared minds
Fortune favors the brave at heart
Every ending once had a start
Live your life without regret
‘Tis better to forgive and to forget
We’re proned to get as hard as we give
Throw stones in the glass houses we live
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Two birds with one stone, that’s quite a catch
A rolling stone gathers no moss
Too many cooks spoil the broth
Just try again if you don’t succeed
And don’t believe everything you read
Make every experience educational
To think twice before speaking is critical
Let sleeping dogs lie I always say
Cause every dog will have his day
To be taught new tricks no matter the age
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Two heads they say is better than one
Violence isn’t always the key my son
Beggars can’t choose, that much we know
More haste less speed, no time to grow
When seams come undone, it’s cause for concern
We are what we are, we live what we learn
A tragedy John’s life was so short.
Alone, his beautiful young widow,
In mourning for their tender love,
Holds his photograph and cries.
Alone, his beautiful young widow,
Pining for his strong, loving arms,
Holds his photograph and cries,
Her memories keep her company.
Pining for his strong, loving arms,
In mourning for their tender love,
Her memories keep her company:
A tragedy. John’s life was so short.
In Memory of John D
For Deb’s When the Going Gets Tough contest
The Sixty-Four Rulers of the Yi Jing
When chieftains uncrowned yearn to be enthroned
They either give their daughters to princes
Or invite other chieftains and have them poisoned
Some choose the war-path without hindrances
And lose their lives wives their land masses
In days of yore we call smirk as dark ages
Today’s chieftains also own land masses
Stars with stripes pedigree business managers
Lawmen who make millions helped by judges
Generals in command of battalions
Through coup d’Etat fulfil ill-nursed grudges
All scions sired by pur sang stallions
Who won elections with money from banks
Or the pennies dropped by party members
All paths leaders take to the top while thanks
They give not to those who toiled to hoist masters
What may the difference be with then and now
One man still decides the fate of one’s country
No man can encompass all the know-how
Any man can lose cool and berserk thrash free
When the going gets tough under pressure
When vested interests pull tout azimuth
Is divine right a blessing rained down treasure
Or the servile mind’s habit of staying put
If sixty-four wise men ran a country
According to the dictates of the Yi Jing
The world will neither know war nor treaty
The future will be assured for every being
(c) T. Wignesan - Paris, 2017
taken away by the flight
by the primacy of our own life process
we are all flies craving for honey
or we are pebbles—
washed but never get cleansed!
let us not be distracted by
the disappointment of
common human behavior
we have to accept, how things are
or rebel against
and so doing, we make it easy on us
or make it hard
the choice is ours
but both take the same labor:
when the going gets tough
the tough gets going—
our ordinary madness is real
we are all feeble, crabs at times:
rushing to escape out of the bucket
we are kept in eternally
we step on each other
pull down one another
caught in a stampede
and reach nowhere—
since we walk crabwise!
we are such an orderly chaos—
a gross ENTROPY!
let us listen to the voices
to the crescendo
and climax of nature
that speak the gods’ voice
let us listen
to the moaning and meaning
of love and light
making every single day and night
the voice that transcend
time and space
the voice that comes through
our shared wall of darkness
let us decenter
the dissonance of bad times
the mournful solitary nights
of hunger and sadness
the melancholic fearful days
let us not be distracted
by the disappointment
of common human behaviors,
flaws, greed, unbearable lightness of Being
let us act, let us make peace
let us live and let live in harmony—
half cooked half raw, as we are
let us toss and sip to the top—
sifa! sifa!
to the THANKSGIVING
in love and light…
A journey of a thousand miles
Begins with a single step
A challenge of great magnitude
Requires determination to accept.
The heart must be strong and brave
The mind must be focused and clear
For when the going gets tough
You must persevere to the end.
The courage to stay the course
And never give up the fight
No matter how hard the struggle
You must stand tall with all your might.
When the odds are stacked against you
And the road is long and hard
You must keep your eyes on the prize
And never let your spirit be marred.
For determination is the key
To unlock any door
It will help you reach the summit
And you'll never feel unsure.
The glass that breaks, by none, my friend
Can ever be joined again
For, cracks remain, as scars persist
And these, no one can mend.
The waves that rise, cannot be tamed
By a child's desperate fist
Or the glare of a noonday sun
Be obscured by morning's mist.
The thunder peals cannot be quelled
At best, you shut your ears
The lightning flash still burns the tree
You see, though you don't hear.
On you walk, your cross seems hard
To bear, you fight your tears
You wear a mask, and smile to hide
From all, your hidden fears.
You call out loud " My God don't hide,
Or turn Your face away,
My prayers hear, some answers give,
My God, please light my way".
As a fly with broken wings
You thrash upon the ground;
Unsure of what you have to do
And lost- no helps' around.
When interminable the night does seem
And the day- eons away,
Blinded by time and unshed tears
Upon your feet you sway.
The fog envelopes you and now
Ahead you cannot see.
You know, a lot you have to do
'Yourself' you fail to be.
Off the sheer mountainface you fall
And yet, you dare to hope
You dare to mouth a prayer and look
Upward for a rope.
I ask You, God; do teach me this
How to smile and not to bend
Though all seems lost, just let me trust
That yes, this night shall end.