A fish swimming against the current,
But the current never ends.
The animal spends its entire life,
Driving against the pressure.
Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water,
Pouring from some unknown fount,
In some unknown place,
Beyond the creature’s reasoning.

But what option is there?
To give up in the midst of such strife,
Would mean being dashed against the rocks.
But the strength needed to press forward,
Nay, even to stay in place,
Would surely be absurd.

But those same rapids,
That bring hardship to the fish,
Also bring it strength.
For a fish born in the current,
Becomes quick and sharp and strong.
Able to swim forever effortlessly.
It excels in this environment.
So much so that to remove it from the current,
And give it an easy life in the still waters,
Would kill it.

From birth a single thought drives it:
Survival.
It doesn’t busy itself considering why.
Nor does it ponder why not.
So it adapts,
And lives a life free from woe.
Not for the lack of adversity,
But for the conquering of it.