"It Couldn't Be Done"

Funny how little things make such a big influence on you. My grandmother made my mother memorize this poem, who in turn quoted it to us whenever we complained that something was impossible.
Funny - now I LOVE the challenge.
Funny. Buckling down "with the trace of a grin" is now my secret joy.
Funny: The adrenaline rush that comes with rolling up my sleeves and starting to sing... as I tackle that thing "that couldn't be done," and I do it.
Special thanks to Katherine Miller Boddie and Garnet Field Miller.

"It Couldn't Be Done"

By Edgar Guest

Somebody said 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 and 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 has ever 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 and 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 to sing as you tackle the thing

That "cannot be done," and you'll do it