Some dismiss it as overly emotional, while others believe the heartfelt simplicity is precisely its appeal. Critical opinion on the value of Whittier's poetry is mixed. He was a staunch abolitionist, and produced two collections of anti-slavery poems, along with an anti-slavery pamphlet that managed to incur the wrath of bothsides and effectively any hopes Whittier had of a political career. An avid reader and writer early on, Whittier spent much of his working life as an editor, though he had political aspirations as well. Born into a Massachusetts farm family, Whittier was introduced to poetry by one of his school teachers. And Whittier was one of those rare poets who actually made a rather comfortable living from the proceeds of his work. The author is: “John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892) was one of the 'Fireside Poets,' called such because their work was popular enough to be read (ostensibly by the fire) in homes all over America. My grandfather kept it with him as a Div 1 United States Marine at Okinawa and then on his desk when he was a community leader in NY’s Little Italy & Chinatown. For 3 generations this poem was passed from father to son in my family. I only found out recently that the author is NOT anonymous. It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit– When he might have captured the victor’s cup,Īnd he learned too late when the night slipped down,Īnd you never can tell how close you are, When he might have won had he stuck it out ĭon’t give up though the pace seems slow– When the funds are low and the debts are high,Īnd you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, I do hope that this poem will bring some degree of optimism and positivity in otherwise negative environment.and hopefully you will find it inspiring too, as much as I do. I thought of posting this at LinkedIn, mainly in light of various negative posts that I have been seeing lately, which justify and encourage quitting. It has definitely inspired generations of Americans. It was a thing back in the 70’s!!)Īlong with my friends and fathers and sons, brothers and uncles and grandfathers, I wish you a very happy and relaxing day filled with the love of your families and friends.This is a superb inspiring poem, in my view, although no one knows who wrote this poem, and exactly how long ago it was written.

And to all of the extraordinary men in my life, including my dad (and no cracks about the bridal hat, please.

Back then, the word primarily meant 'weird' or 'strange. So, I will leave you on this Father’s Day, knowing that my own dad would have been so proud of his kids and grandkids, who every day strive to be better people, to give back to those in need and to greet each day with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, no matter the obstacles. When the poem 'Dont Quit' was written, the word queer had a somewhat different meaning from what it has today. It’s when things seem worse, that you must not quit.” So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.Īnd you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far. “Life is queer with its twists and turns, as everyone of us sometimes learns.Īnd many a failure turns about, When he might have won, had he stuck it out.ĭon’t give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow. The author of the poem is unknown, which is a shame, because I would like to have had the opportunity to thank him (or her) for many times motivating me to keep moving forward and upwards, especially when I am feeling the most down. The next stanza reads: One of giving back, of perseverance and fighting against all odds, and it remains my go-to thought when I am feeling especially defeated. Serving as a constant reminder of my father, now long since past, and the legacy he left behind. Happy to say, I won the challenge and pocketed my $1.00! Which, by the way, went quite a long way back then, when penny candy really was a penny and an ice cold Coca Cola was a nickel!įor all these years, through many moves and changes, the tattered copy of the poem remains in my top desk drawer,

Years ago, when I was a kid, my father offered $1.00 (yes, that’s one dollar) to myself and my siblings as a prize for the first of us to memorize and recite this poem:

Dont quit poem