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 until he tried.
So he buckled right in with a 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 took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he had done 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 in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done” and you'll do it

by EDGAR A. GUEST