Friday, January 16, 2009

They say it couldn't be done


I was going to have completed my series of posts on the subject of fear before sharing this but since I haven't finished writing it and it's Poetry Friday, I'll start with the poem first.

It Couldn't Be Done
by Edgar Albert Guest

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 tried.

The rest of the poem can be found here.

I don't know that if I buckle in with a bit of a grin and start to sing as I tackle the thing I will succeed. But sure seems like the right attitude.

Happy Friday and enjoy more poetry over at Karen Edmisten's.


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the singing definitely helps! Great encouragement for optimists and non-optimists alike.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it does seem that success is in the doing, not necessarily in the outcome. Thanks for this.

tanita✿davis said...

Heh. I agree -- Mayhap Mr. Guest is just a bit too optimistic about grinning and buckling down, etc. -- but it's truly attitude that counts, which I must keep reminding myself.

Sweetness and Light said...

I hadn't read this one before, very nice!! Good luck with your book, I am also about to publish my first book about living our the liturgical year celebrating Mary. It's for the home schooling genre!
Cheers!

Christina said...

Oh, Yat-Yee, I love it! The last two lines: "Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That 'cannot be done,' and you’ll do it."

We all need a little whistle while you work/spoonful of sugar reminder every once in a while. Or, as I call it, the half-glass of wine while you do the dishes. : )

Yat-Yee said...

I'll be singing as I do the dishes with my half glass of wine!

Andromeda Jazmon said...

I have a card handing framed on my wall that my brother gave me. It says: "People who say it cannot be done
should not interrupt those that are doing it." -Chinese proverb

Andromeda Jazmon said...

I mean hanging on my wall of course! :)

Yat-Yee said...

Love the proverb! Wonder what it is in Chinese.

laurasalas said...

Andi, I've seen that saying before and I love it!

Yat-Yee, I've always loved this jaunty poem. It's unlike most of the poems I love, but something about it is irresistable to me.