My Favorite Poem

My favorite type of literature is historical in nature. Autobiographies and biographies catch my attention! Poetry has a place in my bookshelf but it is extremely limited. But there are a number of works of poetry that are extremely special to me. They are special because I relate to the subject or the feeling of the author.
My favorite work of poetry I first heard quoted by Rev. Arlis Glass at a high school graduation. When he recited the poem he added a dimension of drama with his use of voice variations and facial expressions. I was mesmerized by his quotation of the poem.
The author of the poem drew me in stanza by stanza. It connected with a an internal desire that was within my heart. That desire was a desire to never give up no matter the obstacles that you faced! To never quit neither lie down in defeat! To ignore the words of the crowd that was speaking negatively and to listen to the inner voice that told me I could do anything.
Today as I face the struggle of rehabilitating my broken wrist and the weakened muscles that surround it I hear the voice of the physician who stated this week that I would not get total movement back and would face arthritis at some point. Something welled up with in my heart and I refused to accept the negative prognosis. My mind journeyed to my special poem and immediately I began to quote it under my breath. Here is what I said:

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
      But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
      Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
      On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
      That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
      At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
      And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
      Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
      That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
      There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
      The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
      Just 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.

It is important in life to have moments of self talk. Like David these talks to yourself will bring encouragement when the circumstances of life are extremely negative. They will give you faith to climb when your troubles seemed insurmountable. They will be needed at numerous times as you endure lengthy trials. Always remember the words of Paul to the church at Philippi:

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13).

The title of the poem is "It Couldn’t Be Done" by Edgar Albert Guest.