FAILS WEEK: POETRY

Fails Week continued

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From the vault

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I have previously spoken of, and posted, the poetry of Edgar A Guest.

These two items were posted in Bytes on April 20, 2014 . . .

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Guest’s poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” typifies the best and worst of his work, personality and views on life, depending on your attitude towards him:

It Couldn't Be Done

By Edgar A Guest

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 to sing as you tackle the thing

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

* quibbling, equivocation

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Benny Hill had his own take on Guest’s poem:

THEY SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE

by

Benny Hill

They said that it could not be done,

He said, "Just let me try."

They said, "Other men have tried and failed,"

He answered, "But not I."

They said, "It is impossible,"

He said, "There's no such word."

He closed his mind, he closed his heart...

To everything he heard.

He said, "Within the heart of man,

There is a tiny seed.

It grows until it blossoms,

It's called the will to succeed.

Its roots are strength, its stem is hope,

Its petals inspiration,

Its thorns protect its strong green leaves,

With grim determination.

"Its stamens are its skills

Which help to shape each plan,

For there's nothing in the universe

Beyond the scope of man."

They thought that it could not be done,

Some even said they knew it,

But he faced up to what could not be done...

And he couldn't bloody do it!

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