Journey to success

Spines and prickles are in the way, Walking under the scotching sun, The head aches, the throat sores, Yet, hope lives in the heart's embers, Burning bright with each passing day. Through endless toil and constant pressures, The prize awaits, far past the bay. Each step may seem like a mountain climbed, But success comes to those who persist. So, press onward, past pain, past time, And the fruits of labor you will harvest. In winter's icy grip, the path may freeze, Obscuring the way, turning progress to a crawl. But underneath the frost and frozen leaves, The embers still smolder, ready to answer the call. So, let the cold be your teacher, For each step, it will hone your resolve. In the midst of winter's frigid feature, Your inner fire will remain, and the rest will dissolve. When spring thaws the frozen path at last, Your journey will yield its greatest reward. With the sun warm and shining in your grasp, You'll know that the hardship was not in vain, and your heart, never marred. Through the spines and the cold, You will climb, you will prevail. For the strength you possess, your triumph untold, Will be the sweetest fruit to reap and to hail. ~Constance K Zhakata