Douglas Malloch
Douglas Malloch Poems
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;
...
Sure, this world is full of trouble
I ain't said it ain't.
Lord, I've had enough and double
...
Men build a road of Masonry
Across the hills and dales,
Unite the prairie and the sea,
...
Father's lodge, I well remember,
wasn't large as lodges go,
There was trouble in December
...
Fine men have walked this way before,
Whatever Lodge your Lodge may be;
Whoever stands before the door,
...
Let no king quite put off his crown!
I still would have him kingly when
In some old inn the king sat down
...
The Little Lodge of long ago —
It wasn't very much for show;
Men met above the village store,
...
Brick by brick the Masons builded
Till the highest cross was gilded
With the glory of the sun,
Till the noble task was done.
...
Men say, 'How wonderful is Spring!'
I say, 'How marvelous is man!'
For Spring no more can gladness bring
...
Some would have Spring within the heart,
But I, some mellow month in mine
Like old October: flowers depart,
...
We'll twine some holly on the chandelier,
We'll hang a 'Merry Christmas!' on the wall;
Remember, brothers, Christmas time is near,
...
Oh, his hair was a white as the snow that we tread,
With a little black cap on the back of his head,
And he trembled a bit, but I saw in his eyes
...
Douglas Malloch Biography
Douglas Malloch (May 5, 1877 – July 2, 1938) was an American poet, short-story writer and Associate Editor of American Lumberman, a trade paper in Chicago. He became known as a "Lumberman's poet" both locally and nationally. He is noted for writing Round River Drive and "Be the Best of Whatever You Are" in addition to many other creations. He was commissioned to write the Michigan State Song. Brother Malloch, as he was called, was born in Muskegon, Michigan which was known as a center of the lumbering industry. He grew up amidst the forest, logging camps, sawmills and lumber yards. He became famous among the people of twentieth century involved in the lumbering industry. He married Helen Miller, a newswoman who was founder of the National Federation of Press Women.)
The Best Poem Of Douglas Malloch
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!
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4/25/2024 1:48:16 PM # 1.0.0.1119
The poet urges readers to be the best irrespective of their formal status.