The poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest is about perseverance and having a positive mindset. It talks about a person and how he is told that a particular task is impossible, but he does not accept it as his reality. He insists on trying it first, and only if he fails will he accept it as impossible for himself. He then goes on to attempt that task with a great and positive attitude and succeeds at it. Isn’t this what happens to us in our day-to-day lives as well? We sometimes come across people who dissuade and discourage us from attempting something, but when we try it, we sometimes succeed!

On similar lines, this poem encourages us to take on challenges with confidence, ignore the naysayers, and keep pushing with a smile. It’s all about facing hurdles and showing that even the tough stuff is doable. Come along for this inspiring ride of overcoming doubts and making the “impossible” happen.

It Couldn’t Be Done

By Edgar Albert Guest

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.