As a grade school child, my mother dealt with issues like poverty, and a world at war. She saw the havoc that reigned outside her home, but fortunately it did not enter. In her own words, "I was a serious child, worried about the war, and trying to become a good Christian." In her fifth year of school, she was assigned an oral book report, which was to be accompanied by an original poem. Her book - Les Miserable's, her original poem - Destiny. Upon completing her assignment, her teacher criticized her for her choice of book, and for her lack of ability to pronounce it correctly. Her teacher also singled her poem out in front of the whole class as an example of plagiarism. When the teacher finished reading it, it was handed back to her with a big red F on it. Her original poem is below.

Destiny

Even a blind man can clearly see
The road that beseeks his destiny.
I often feel that I have been
A transposed figure, sin within.
Cast into an immortal world,
Where meteors from Hell, are hurled
Like burning fire at my feet.

The Devil reigning in his realm
Fires human souls into his kiln.
Burn out the good! Leave just the sin!
And when he's through he'll take you in
A lightening bolt, a fiery blast
There find your Destiny at last
You can't go back, you can't retreat

But if instead your soul be good
Your heart be pure and as it should
You'll find instead the Upward Trail
Seek the Chalice and Holy Grail
If man to man you can be true,
And man to God your soul renew
Then Destiny to you will be
A heavenly home for eternity
No other choice can be so sweet

Author ~ Allene Haldy
circa 1944