For the past two years, my son has participated in his school’s talent show. Last year, he recited “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou and this year he recited “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest. I enjoy teaching him these poems and I am truly empowered by him as he delivers the poems in his own style.
Teaching him “It Couldn’t Be Done” has really empowered me as I continue to dedicate myself to a life of service to others. When I first shared the idea for The Giving Net with others, I was met with less than optimism from a few of my closest confidants and from others who reject the idea of commUNITY, but just as the gentleman in the poem, I will optimistically pursue my purpose because I believe it can be done.
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 in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.
