John Lowman and Stan Scott a poem for them.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 30/06/2014 09:18:07

We have sadly lost two very stalwart members of the CVA and they need no introduction from me.

John Lowman loved the poet Robert Service and I have selected this poem of Services that I know John liked. It sums up for me the characters of both John and Scotty. So I offer it in the memory and a tribute to both.

RIP: John & Scotty

The Quitter

By: Robert Service

When you're lost in the Wild, and you're scared as a child,
And Death looks you bang in the eye,
And you're sore as a boil, it's according to Hoyle
To cock your revolver and . . . die.
But the Code of a Man says: Fight all you can,
And self-dissolution is barred.
In hunger and woe, oh, it's easy to blow . . .
It's the hell-served-for-breakfast that's hard.

You're sick of the game!? Well, now, that's a shame.
You're young and you're brave and you're bright.
You've had a raw deal! I know-but don't squeal,
Buck up, do your damnedest, and fight.
It's the plugging away that will win you the day,
So don't be a piker, old pard!
Just draw on your grit; it's so easy to quit:
It's the keeping-your-chin-up that's hard.

It's easy to cry that you're beaten-and die;
It's easy to crawfish and crawl;
But to fight and to fight when hope's out of sight-
Why, that's the best game of them all!
And though you come out of each grueling bout,
All broken and beaten and scarred,
Just have one more try-it's dead easy to die,
It's the keeping-on-living that's hard.