Be the Best of Whatever You Are by Douglas Malloch

Be the Best of Whatever You Are

by Douglas Malloch

 

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 some happier make;

If you can’t be a muskie then just be a bass--

But the liveliest bass in the lake!

pine 

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 we must do is the near.

 

An American Poet

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!

 

Word meanings

Scrub (noun) - an area of land covered with) short trees and bushes, growing on dry ground of low quality

Valley (noun) - an area of low land between hills or mountains, often with a river flowing through it; the land that a river flows through

Example: In the valley below cows were grazing peacefully.

Rill (noun) a shallow channel cut by water flowing over rock or soil

Muskie (noun) a type of fish

 Bass (noun) a type of fish found in rivers or the sea

 

Summary of the poem

Be the Best of Whatever You Are by Douglas Malloch motivates us to make the most of our circumstances, and be the best version of ourselves, regardless of our position or role in life. It emphasizes that it's not always about being in the most important position, but rather about doing our best and making a positive impact wherever we are.

The poem suggests that if we cannot be the most prominent tree on a hill, we should try to be the best small bush or scrub by a stream. If we cannot be a powerful muskie fish, we should aim to be the liveliest bass in the lake. It highlights that it's not about being the biggest or most powerful, but about being the best at what we do.

The poem also reminds us that not everyone can be a leader or a captain; there are roles for all of us. It encourages us to embrace the tasks at hand, whether they are big or small, and to give our best effort. It emphasizes that our value is not determined by our size or status but by how well we fulfill our potential and contribute positively to the world.

In summary, the poem is a reminder to be the best version of ourselves, to make the most of our abilities and circumstances, and to contribute positively in whatever role or position we find ourselves in.

Dear readers,

Please, never hesitate to comment because your comment inspires me much to write. Moreover, any correction regarding the writings will be largely appreciated and valued, and you can ask me any grammatical question regarding English. I promise I would try my best to assist you, all. Thank you very much.

 Prepared by

Md. Saiful Alam

BA Honours, BEd (1^st Class) and MA in English

An MPO registered Assistant Teacher of English

Machkhola Secondary School, Satkhira

Email: suman64924@gamil.com

If by Rudyard Kipling for class seven, New Curriculum, 2023, English

If

by Rudyard Kipling

 

 (1865 – 1936) an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist

‘If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

 

Word Meanings

Pitch and toss- a gambling game

Sinew – (noun) strong band of tissue in the body connecting a muscle to a bone

Except - not including

Hold on – to not give up

 

Summary of the poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling:

Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" is about the qualities and virtues that a person should possess to navigate through life successfully. It describes various situations and challenges, highlighting the importance of perseverance, humility, and inner strength.

 

The first stanza talks about the ability to gather wealth and take risks with it, without thinking much about the outcome. It emphasizes the importance of starting over and not dwelling on past losses.

 

The second stanza speaks to the idea of pushing oneself beyond physical and mental limits, continuing to strive even when faced with exhaustion or adversity. It encourages holding on and not giving up, relying on the willpower to endure.

 

Overall, the poem encourages readers to remain determined, resilient, and focused, regardless of the difficulties they encounter. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, facing challenges with courage, and never losing hope.

 

Dear readers,

Please, never hesitate to comment because your comment inspires me much to write. Moreover, any correction regarding the writings will be largely appreciated and valued, and you can ask me any grammatical question regarding English. I promise I would try my best to assist you, all. Thank you very much.

 Prepared by

Md. Saiful Alam

BA Honours, BEd (1^st Class) and MA in English

An MPO registered Assistant Teacher of English

Machkhola Secondary School, Satkhira

Email: suman64924@gamil.com

"My Experience of Collecting Information from Friends" Class: Six, New Curriculum - 2023

1^st Assessment - 2023

Subject: English, Class: 6 (VI)

Make 5-10 questions from Bangla textbook?

1. Which poem do you like from Bangla textbook?

Answer: I like the poem called “Chithi Bili”.

2.  Who wrote the poem?

Rokanuzzaman Khan

The poem: Chithi Bili

Answer: Rokanuzzaman Khan, a Bangladeshi journalist and litterateur, wrote it.

3. What is the poem about?

Answer: The poem is about delivering letters by a frog, a postmaster here.

4. Why do you like it?

Answer: It is very interesting because here a frog is doing the job of a postmaster.

5. How are the rhyming patters of the poem?

Answer: The 2^nd line rhymes with the 4^th line, whereas the 6^th line, with the 8^th line. In the same way, every alternate line rhymes together.

6. Which season is it?

Answer: It is the rainy season.

7. What are things the frog carrying?

Answer: The frog is carrying an umbrella, a hurricane and a bag of letters.

8. What do you see behind him?

Answer: A river is flowing smoothly behind him.

9. What do you see in the sky?

Answer: Some black clouds are floating to and fro in the sky.

10. What do you think where he is now?

Answer: He is now on his way to deliver letters to the recipients. 

Assignment on 

My Experience of Collecting Information from Friends

 I am going to share my experience of collecting information from friends about Bangla poetry. It was quite interesting.

At first I have prepared some questions to know about my friend’s likings of Bangla book. Then I noted down the answers serially in the notebook. In short, it can be said that he loved the poem “Paka Paki”. It is a nice poem because its rhymes are sweeter to listen to. Sukumar Roy writes it. He is a famous poet for his rhyming pattern.

He likes the Bangla textbook because there are many interesting pictures and many topics that attracted him very much. He likes Bangla poetry more than short stories, dramas, essays and novels. He loves it because its rhymes and sweet sound it produces.

I enjoyed the session very much. It is exciting to know about a new thing from a friend. I did not have to read it but I know about it now. It helped me a lot to enhance my creativity.

I faced few problems about spelling some Bangla words in English, and sometimes my partner did not understand me while I was talking with him in English. So, I had to use easy words for him. Nothing is more exciting to learn by sharing. 

Md. Saiful Alam
B. A. Honours, BEd (1^st Class) and M. A. in English
An MPO Registered Assistant Teacher of English,
Machkhola Secondary School, Satkhira
E-mail: suman64924@gmail.com