Frequent visitors of this blog will have noticed that I have started writing short stories. I’ve been writing poetry and prose for some years now, but due to a lack of time (and confidence), I stopped some time ago. But a few weeks ago, I picked it up again. Recent events have made me flip a switch. That’s why this poem by Edgar Guest really spoke to me. I’m finally starting to believe I can actually do it. I can actually write that novel. I just have to do it. And start small. With a few short stories.
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.
Edgar Guest
Alix in Wonderland 