Be the Best of Whatever You Are
Douglas Malloch
1877 to 1938
Type into the gaps to complete the poem. To reset the game, click on the "Reset Game" button located below the poem. This will clear all the words you've placed in the blanks, and resetting the poem to its original state with empty blanks. If you prefer to drag and drop words, click the Drag & Drop button below. You can also print out the poem for use in the classroom.
If you can't be a pine on the top the hill
Be a scrub in the valley—but be
best little scrub by the side of the rill;
a bush if you can't be a tree.
If can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway some happier make;
If you can't a muskie then just be a bass—
But the bass in the lake!
We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,
There's something for all of here.
There's big work to do and there's lesser do,
And the task we must do is near.
If you can't be a highway then just a trail,
If you can't be the sun be star;
It isn't by size that you win or fail—
Be the best of whatever you are!