Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth

 By Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861)

 [Editors’ note: when one of the Editorial Team was despairing of the fact that The LEAD Group has worked strenuously with other Partners of the UNEP Partnership for Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles since 2002, to eliminate leaded petrol globally (by 2008!!) yet in 2013 there are still 6 or 7 countries where leaded petrol is still sold – our past Editor Anne Roberts, recited this poem, which gave some comfort to the Team.]

SAY not the struggle naught availeth,
The labour and the wounds are vain,
The enemy faints not, nor faileth,
And as things have been they remain.

If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars;
It may be, in yon smoke conceal'd,
Your comrades chase e'en now the fliers,
And, but for you, possess the field.

For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.

And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light;
In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly!
But westward, look, the land is bright!