Let it be said, a little pain

          isn’t harmful as we think,

When the pain we feel is trivial

         and common as a wink.

Around us, let us see the plight

             of hunger and distress,

Homelessness and cold despair,

              and misery no less.

Those that feel the pinch of stress,

                but do not feel its stab

Might  yet react to just a twinge,

                  or to its harmless dab.

Those that have the means to be

                   ensconced in comfort, yet

Desire and aspire more,

                     complain and sorely fret.

Those that barely must exist

                      on morsels day to day,

Find no salvation, hoping to

                       yet find another way.

Question not:  Is suffering such

                        that death can only end it?

 The question being: Is comfort such

                         that life could oft defend it?

The ground betwixt the two extremes

                          might never be the same,

Or the runner, running fast and sure,

                           might suddenly be lame.

Let it be known that life is such

                            that freedom and endeavor

Are factors that uphold the truth:

                             nothing is forever!