When One's Character Is Built

The times are bleak indeed
The cold bites bitterly
All is in discouragement
Despair and sadness
Every avenue exhausted
Pain exponentially grows
The losses mount higher
Wind chill factor negative
Precipitous disaster

These are also the times
When courage takes hold
Persistence pays off
The never die attitude
To try and try harder
Failure is not an option
Hold fast to the goals
Instilling the fight
Of one's moral compass

These are bleak times indeed
These are also the times
When one's character is built.