By Michael W Raley

Hard times, whether in the future or past,

Help shape the mold from which we are cast.

Will we become a vessel refined

Or be relegated to the scrap pile of time?

The hard times teach us what we don’t know

And show us how we are to grow

Into the person we can and should be,

Thus, helping to forge our destiny.

Just as gold goes through the fire,

So will we, as we learn to quell our bad habits and desires.

When our time in the fire is done,

We shall be as sharpened iron on display for everyone.