Loser and Victor

Poem for the Day

Loser and Victor
by Edgar Albert Guest

He was beaten from the start,
Beaten by his doubting heart,
And he had a ready ear
For the busy tongue of fear,
And he had a timid mind
Unto fretfulness inclined,
Filled with many reasons why
It was vain for him to try.
Given a task he'd shake his head,
'Can't do that!' he often said,
'Times are hard and none will stay,
Listen to the words I say.
It is futile now to try,
People simply will not buy!'
Thus he walked the streets of trade,
Both discouraged and afraid.

But another kind of man
Thought this way: 'Perhaps I can!
If I will supply the pluck,
Fortune may provide the luck.
If I have the grit to try,
There are people who may buy;
Anyhow, I'll not submit
To defeat before I'm hit.'
One was beaten from the start,
Beaten by his doubting heart,
Beaten when he gave his ear
To the busy tongue of fear.
But another with his chance
Seized the moment to advance,
And came happy home at night
Just because he dared to fight.