Uplifting Poems
Opportunity
by Berton Braley
With doubt and dismay you are smitten
You think there's no chance for you, son?
Why, the best books haven't been written
The best race hasn't been run,
The best score hasn't been made yet,
The best song hasn't been sung,
The best tune hasn't been played yet,
Cheer up, for the world is young!
No chance? Why the world is just eager
......
Risk
by William Arthur Ward
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because
......
Be the Best of Whatever You Are
by Douglas Malloch
If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley — but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.
If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass —
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
......
The Optimist vs the Pessimist
by William Arthur Ward
The optimist turns the impossible into the possible;
the pessimist turns the possible into the impossible.
The optimist pleasantly ponders how high the kite will fly;
the pessimist woefully wonders how soon the kite will fall.
The optimist sees a green near every sand trap;
the pessimist sees a sand trap near every green.
The optimist looks at the horizon and sees an opportunity;
the pessimist peers into the distance and fears a problem.
To the optimist all doors have handles and hinges;
......
Figure It Out
by Edgar Albert Guest
Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You're all that the greatest of men have had,
Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,
And a brain to use if you would be wise.
With this equipment we all began,
So start for the top and say 'I can.'
Look them over, the wise and great,
They take their food from a common plate,
And similar knives and forks they use,
......
Champions
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
they have what it takes
like sunset colors on blue
strength guts and virtue
like the orange sun
they are natural leaders
in red robin days
like rainbow colors
they have that extra something
......
Figure It Out
by Edgar Albert Guest
Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You're all that the greatest of men have had,
Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,
And a brain to use if you would be wise.
With this equipment we all began,
So start for the top and say 'I can.'
Look them over, the wise and great,
They take their food from a common plate,
And similar knives and forks they use,
......
What Counts
by Edgar Albert Guest
It isn't the money you're making,
it isn't the clothes you wear,
And it isn't the skill of your good right hand which makes folks really care.
It's the smile on your face and
the light of your eye and the burdens that you bear.
Most any old man can tell you, most any old man at all,
Who has lived through all sorts of weather, winter and summer and fall,
That riches and fame are shadows that dance on the garden wall.
......
Keep Your Dreams
by Edgar Albert Guest
Keep your dreams-they're richer far
Than the facts discovered are.
Do not seek all things to touch;
Do not want to know too much.
Growing old, still play the child;
Keep some glory undefiled.
What if clouds are mist and air?
Still see ships sailing there.
......
Another Fresh New Year
by William Arthur Ward
Another fresh new year is here
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
......
