Be the Best of Whatever You Are

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,

Be a scrub in the valley — but be

The best little scrub by the side of the rill;

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,

And some highway happier make;

If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass —

But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,

There's something for all of us here,

There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,

And the task you must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,

If you can't be the sun be a star;

It isn't by size that you win or you fail —

Be the best of whatever you are!

Douglas Malloch

It's Fine Today

Sure, this world is full of trouble

I ain't said it ain't.

Lord, I've had enough and double

Reason for complaint;

Rain and storm have come to fret me,

Skies are often gray;

Thorns and brambles have beset me

On the road — but say,

Ain't it fine today?

What's the use of always weepin',

Making trouble last?

What's the use of always keepin'

Thinkin' of the past?

Each must have his tribulation —

Water with his wine;

Life, it ain't no celebration,

Trouble? — I've had mine —

But today is fine!

It's today that I am livin',

Not a month ago.

Havin'; losin'; takin'; givin';

As time wills it so.

Yesterday a cloud of sorrow

Fell across the way,

It may rain again tomorrow,

It may rain — but say,

Ain't it fine today?

Douglas Malloch

Make Me Mellow

Some would have Spring within the heart,

But I, some mellow month in mine

Like old October: flowers depart,

And even youth must resign —

But always, brothers, there are some

To whom no Winters ever come:

Always October skies are theirs,

Even amid life's wintry cares.

And I would have my soul look the same:

I cannot keep the look of youth,

But how October maples flame —

Age takes our beauty, gives us truth,

Age takes our wit, and makes us wise,

Age gives us life's October skies

And old October's mellower days,

A better time a thousand ways.

God make me mellow! Make me not

Sudden as Summer, brief as Spring.

I would not blow too cold, too hot,

I would keep kind through ev'rything.

I may give others less than flow'rs

Of flattery, but in their hours

Of grief, of trouble and of need

May I bring rather fruits to feed.

Douglas Malloch

The Masonry Of Spring

Men say, "How wonderful is Spring!"

I say, "How marvelous is man!"

For Spring no more can gladness bring

To earth than men to mortals can.

The Springtime sun is very good,

But, oh, the smile of brotherhood!

And green the grass upon the slope,

But lovelier some word of hope.

There is a Masonry of earth,

Of sun and blossom, seed and rain;

The only Masonry of worth

Is one that brings the Spring again,

Brings strength to brothers sore beset,

And faith to brothers who forget;

Like sun to blossom, rain to seed,

Are men who come to men in need.

A great fraternity is ours

Who really see and understand,

A brotherhood of hearts and flow'rs

And smiling sun and stretching hand.

We, too, may bloom in our own way,

Make glad some other mortal's day,

As much as any birds that sing

In God's great Masonry of Spring!

Douglas Malloch