Poem analysis: “This too shall pass” by Helen Steiner Rice

This Too Shall Pass

If I can endure for this minute Whatever is happening to me, No matter how heavy my heart is Or how dark the moment may be- If I can remain calm and quiet With all the world crashing about me, Secure in the knowledge God loves me When everyone else seems to doubt me- If I can but keep on believing What I know in my heart to be true, That darkness will fade with the morning And that this will pass away, too- Then nothing in life can defeat me For as long as this knowledge remains I can suffer whatever is happening For I know God will break all of the chains That are binding me tight in the darkness And trying to fill me with fear- For there is no night without dawning And I know that my morning is near. This poem is a very empowering poem. When reading it you can hear the tone of strength, assurance and calmness that the poetic voice takes in your mind. This sense of power is also a consequence of the author's use of imagery, this is the use of sensory language that creates a vivid impression. In this poem it is mostly viewed  by the use of the word “darkness” to describe the scenery and the descriptions she uses to tell the reader how she feels that her body is  physically being held back from success and happiness. The author uses free verse to communicate that against all odds and with god's help she will succeed. She ends the poem by telling  us that hard times are just like the night, it only lasts a few hours, it's not eternal and it always passes by.