A Poem Inspired by Betsy’s Determination During Her Illness

Onward, onward, onward she cries!

She shall never turn back and she’ll not hear the lies.

Gloom and death hover o’er as a cloud,

But she shall not submit herself to the shroud.

As lithe as a nymph and graceful as a queen,

She presses on with the strength of Rome’s fighting machine.

As Wellington won Waterloo so she shall win to,

For she places her trust in the faithful and true.

With Christ on her side her life she’ll renew,

And with heaven’s great ranks she shall march right on through.

Oh, Ye that need strength in time of despair,

Just look to the maid with the soft golden hair.

With hair as the sun and eyes as the deep,

The damsel shall not submit to death’s sleep.

For once in the water with Christ she did die,

And she’ll rise again to live ever on high.

This poem was inspired by a dear friend of mine who was terribly ill.  When things seemed most bleak, still she was determined to fight her illness and to strive against it.  I hope that is captured in these words.