Without One Single Sigh


To be humble and seek no advantage.
To accept what there is to face.
Never take what’s not freely given.
Then have a life free from shame and disgrace.


To be able to sleep the sleep of the innocent.
To live a free life without any fault.
You can listen to the words of the accuser,
Then be the one who leads the assault.


Fight only for what you believe in.
Manage the frail with mercy and care.
You must accept there will be limitations,
But your heart with your soul you can lay bare.


Be aware of the inevitability of defeat.
If so, look your conqueror squarely in the eye.
Courage alone may not win every battle,
But being brave will leave you nothing to justify.


Remember to show dignity at all time
And be honourable to all you meet.
Seek for nothing that is not purely virtuous,
Nor weave a web full of evil deceit.


You may have to face illness as your destroyer,
This could mean you are frustrated with today’s delays.
If you are you must temper rage with moderation,
Simply accept your demise, and then the people you’ll amaze.


In the end, you may be alone with only your conscience,
But as you spoke the truth and never did you lie,
You can be strong as God passes down his sentence
And welcome death without one single sigh.


© 2022, Daniel Kemp All rights reserved


To be humble and seek no advantage.
To accept what there is to face.
Never take what’s not freely given.
Then have a life free from shame and disgrace.


To be able to sleep the sleep of the innocent.
To live a free life without any fault.
You can listen to the words of the accuser,
Then be the one who leads the assault.


Fight only for what you believe in.
Manage the frail with mercy and care.
You must accept there will be limitations,
But your heart with your soul you can lay bare.


Be aware of the inevitability of defeat.
If so, look your conqueror squarely in the eye.
Courage alone may not win every battle,
But being brave will leave you nothing to justify.


Remember to show dignity at all time
And be honourable to all you meet.
Seek for nothing that is not purely virtuous,
Nor weave a web full of evil deceit.


You may have to face illness as your destroyer,
This could mean you are frustrated with today’s delays.
If you are you must temper rage with moderation,
Simply accept your demise, and then the people you’ll amaze.


In the end, you may be alone with only your conscience,
But as you spoke the truth and never did you lie,
You can be strong as God passes down his sentence
And welcome death without one single sigh.


© 2022, Daniel Kemp All rights reserved

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About Daniel Kemp

At the age of seventy-six, Daniel Kemp has started his second year of studying the science of Psychology at the Open University. He is a member of The Society of Authors and also a bestselling writer. However, in early September 2025, he was diagnosed with cancer. He is now in palliative care at home, being looked after by his ex-wife. When he was writing his novels, he enjoyed writing stories that appealed to those who liked challenging themselves to solve mysteries that were set out before their eyes, but they couldn't. His introduction to the world of espionage and mystery happened at an early age when his father was employed by the War Office in Whitehall, London, at the end of WWII. However, it wasn’t until after his father died that he showed any interest in anything other than himself! On leaving academia he took on many roles in his working life: a London police officer, mini-cab business owner, pub tenant and licensed London taxi driver, but never did he plan to become a writer. Nevertheless, after a road traffic incident left him suffering from PTSD and effectively—out of paid work for four years, he wrote and self-published his first novel —The Desolate Garden. Within three months of publication, that book was under a paid option to become a $30 million film. The option lasted for six years until distribution became an insurmountable problem for the production company. All ten of his novels are now published by Next Chapter Publishing Company which has added an edition titled The Heirs And Descendants Collection, which holds all four books of that series, alongside an edition titled The Lies And Consequences Collection which contains all four volumes of that series. He is the recipient of rave reviews from a prestigious Manhattan publication and described as—the new Graham Green—by a highly placed executive of Waterstones Books, for whom he did a countrywide tour of book signing events. He has also appeared on 'live' television in the UK publicising his first novel. Less
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4 Responses to Without One Single Sigh

  1. cindy knoke's avatar cindy knoke says:

    How beautiful and inspiring Daniel.

  2. Daniel Kemp's avatar Daniel Kemp says:

    That’s kind, Cindy, thank you. I just looked at your post on Macaws, I thought that was a beautiful bird.

  3. Hi Danny, this is wonderful. It reminds me of IF by Rudyard Kipling. A favourite poem of mine.

  4. Daniel Kemp's avatar Daniel Kemp says:

    High praise indeed.

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