Raise Your Chin Up, Lad
A satirical, ironic poem submitted to the "Instructions for a Feeling" Challenge
Raise your chin up, lad!
Smile and greet the day!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Chase those frowns away!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Early, the day began!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Sloth shan't befit a man!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Keep your thoughts aligned!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Woe is but a state of mind!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Grin before your peers!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Laugh at all their jeers!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Temper every hand and word!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Your temper is absurd!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Your joy is to work!
Raise your chin up, lad!
No single task must you shirk!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Accept the life you got!
Raise your chin up, lad!
For many envy your lot!
Raise your chin up, lad!
Fold your heart in brass!
Raise your chin up, lad!
For relief comes in a glass!
Raise your chin up, lad!
What hindrance can you claim?
Raise your chin up, lad!
For, indeed, I bear the same!
Author's Note:
"Raise Your Chin Up, Lad" is meant as a more satirical look at the advice many men have received at one point in their life or other. Young men often wonder what happiness is, or if there is any point to life at all (I speak from personal experience). This can lead to some serious cases of depression that often stem from the societal mentality of "If I went through it, so should you."
The above instructions are intended as the flawed advice of such mentality and may be all-too-familiar with men who have suffered from depression: having been called lazy, weak, irritable, or even worse by their family or peers. This poem is meant to affirm the absurdity of such "help". If you or a loved one feel this way, seek help. It is the strongest, bravest thing you can do.
About the Creator
Choose Your Own Adventure: St Helena Station
*****Preface***** I have been obsessed with Choose Your Own Adventure stories since I was a kid. I credit them with my love of reading and writing. I've been struggling to get my own kids to embrace words the same way I have but they love video games and our occasional Dungeon's and Dragon's game... which gave me an idea. I'll write an interactive story. So far its working; my middle son loves it and can't wait for the next section to come out.
By Sandor Szabo8 days ago in Fiction
Comments (1)
Excellent poem and decidedly British. Curse them.