AACtrudging

trudge
 / trʌdʒ /    [ truhj ] –verb (used without object) http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/trudging The speaker is trying to explaiun that no matter what they do she keeps trudging (meaning she keeps fighting and pushing through.) I know this because in the poem the speaker says " But I kept trudging on through the lonely years. "
 * Definition:** To walk, esp. laboriously or wearily: to trudge up a long flight of steps.