(photo P Volker)
As another year slips away………
Time to reflect before the New Year, 2022, comes upon us………….
So much, on so many levels, has unfolded in the past 12 months.
Many reasons to Smile. Many reasons to Cry.
An Amazing amount to be Grateful for.
None the least of these is our Privilege of having experienced a Strong connection to Our Dear Friend, Phil Volker.
We have witnessed new Life and also watched Life pass on to the next dimension.
There were many sides to this Wonderful Man.
I would like to reflect on one of these attributes and that was Phil’s determination, no matter what, to NEVER QUIT.
I complete this blog by sharing a poem ( knowing Phil like poems ) from Robert W Service 1874–1958.
The Quitter.
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.
Thank you so much for this, William! Robert W. Service was my father’s favorite poet and he often would recite ‘The Cremation of Sam McGee’ and ‘The Shooting of Dan McGrew’ complete with sound effects! I inherited both volumes, The Spell of the Yukon and Rhymes of a Red Cross Man.
Yes Mary Margaret the words of Robert W Service resonate with many folks.
My first exposure to this poet goes back to the summer of 1967.
I hitched a ride from Expo 67 in Montreal in Quebec to Fairbanks Alaska via Robert Service’s cabin in the Yukon.
I have enjoyed his poetry ever since…………
The snow drops will pop out soon but unseasonably warm here,17c on the 1st of January!Warm air from Morocco.Our snow drops should grow well this year as a little cat that we had died so I buried her next to the snow drops and from her they’ll draw nutrients.The cycle of nature.
Hi Kevin.
Sorry to read of your cats demise.
As you have so rightly said, the snow drops will benefit from “The cycle of nature”.
May you continue to enjoy the + 17c.
Tonight I look forward to Minus 29c.
Tue Minus 36c. Wed Minus 39c
Whoa, William!!!!! That was spot on! I love your prose and the poem as well! We needed that! And we need you my dear Canadian fellow pilgrim! Thank you!
Love,
Carol (The Handler). (As I told my Mom when she face her cancer ultimatum “We have to try!”)
Greetings to the Famous “Handler”.
Thank You for all your kindness towards Phil and his Family.
May the year 2022 treat you with Kindness.