When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!
Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!
By Edgar Guest
A) The poem tells us that we will be faced with many things that scare us throughout our lives. We grow as human beings when we face our fears.
- What are some of your fears?
- Describe in detail one of your fears, or an episode that made you fearful.
- What was your reaction to this fear?
- Describe a fear that you have faced?
- How did you face it?
- What was the outcome of your bravery?
- How will you react to fearful situations in the future?
B) This poem is in poetic and sometimes complicated language. Please express the following ideas in simple language:
- Meet a fear squarely, face to face.
- Lift your chin and set your shoulders, plant your feet and take a brace.
- Black may be the clouds about you.
- Don’t let your nerves desert you.
- Keep yourself in fighting trim.
- See (a fear, a problem) through.
C) Please underline the following words in the poem,look them up in the dictionary and make sentences with them.
- grim
- futile
- vain
- to dodge (verb)
- to fail (verb)
- to conquer (verb)
- to desert (verb)
Audio courtesy Tara Kriplani: