"This to Shall Pass" by Helen Steiner Rice

If I can endure for this minute

Whatever is happening to me,

No matter how heavy my heart is

Or how dark the moment may be-

If I can remain calm and quiet

With all the world crashing about me,

Secure in the knowledge God loves me

When everyone else seems to doubt me-

If I can but keep on believing

What I know in my heart to be true,

That darkness will fade with the morning

And that this will pass away, too-

Then nothing in life can defeat me

For as long as this knowledge remains

I can suffer whatever is happening

For I know God will break all of the chains

That are binding me tight in the darkness

And trying to fill me with fear-

For there is no night without dawning

And I know that my morning is near.

………………………………………………………..

Language has an outstanding power.  It can transmit emotion and comfort by combining words. “This too shall pass”, a lyric poem by Helen Steiner Rice, is an extraordinary motivational and inspirational poem that does not have a specific or define rhyme scheme (ABCB ABBB DEDE BFDF). Through the use of some elements of poetry, she makes the reader recognize that despite of the pain or the difficulty of the situation (“No matter how heavy my heart is/Or how dark the moment may be”) we just need to have faith in God.  She uses the weight of the heart as a symbol for difficulty and sadness. The author also compares her pain with the sensation of the world crashing her (hyperbole).  Personification, another element of poetry, is also present in this poem. The author gives the chains the power of trying to fill her with fear.

 I can suffer whatever is happening

For I know God will break all of the chains

That are binding me tight in the darkness

And trying to fill me with fear

Helen Steiner has done a masterpiece with this poem.  Using an inspirational tone, the author has write every verse; every stanza, to lead us to imagine (imagery) the extent of her pain but also the gratitude and greatness of God's power.  It is God, and only God, who can give to us the strength to endure all of our problems.  God is always the answer. He is the key for eternal peace. 

           

                                          "For there is no night without dawning 

                                           And I know that my morning is near."

                                                          Helen Steiner Rice