It Couldn't Be Done
Somebody said that it couldn't be done, but she with a chuckle, replied
that maybe it couldn't, but she would be one who wouldn't say so 'til she tried.
So she buckled right in with the trace of a grin on her face. If she worried, she hid it.
She started to sing as she tackled the thing that couldn't be done, and she did it.
Somebody scoffed: “Oh you'll never do that; no one ever has done it.”
But she took off her coat and took off her hat, and the first thing she knew, she'd begun it.
With the lift of her chin, and a bit of a grin, without any doubting or quiddit,
she started to sing as the tackled the thing that couldn't be done, and she did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, there are thousands to prophesize failure;
there are thousands to point out to you one by one, the dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin, then take off your coat and go to it.
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing that cannot be done, and you'll do it.
- Edgar Guest (1881 - 1959)
Edgar A. Guest began his illustrious career in 1895 at the age of fourteen when his work first appeared the the Detroit Free Press. His column was syndicated in over 300 newspapers, and he became known as "The Poet of the People."
