It Couldn't be Done
Edgar A. Guest
1881 to 1959
Track 1
Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
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And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
Just take off your coat and go to it;
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
But he with a chuckle replied
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
The dangers that wait to assail you.
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,