You are beaten to earth?  Well, well, what’s that! 
    Come up with a smiling face. 
  It’s nothing against you to fall down flat,
    But to lie there—­that’s disgrace. 
  The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce
    Be proud of your blackened eye! 
  It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts;
    It’s how did you fight—­and why?

  And though you be done to the death, what then? 
    If you battled the best you could,
  If you played your part in the world of men,
    Why, the Critic will call it good. 
  Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
    And whether he’s slow or spry,
  It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts,
    But only how did you die?

Edmund Vance Cooke.

From “Impertinent Poems.”

A LESSON FROM HISTORY

To break the ice of an undertaking is difficult.  To cross on broken ice, as Eliza did to freedom, or to row amid floating ice, as Washington did to victory, is harder still.  This poem applies especially to those who are discouraged in a struggle to which they are already committed.

  Everything’s easy after it’s done;
  Every battle’s a “cinch” that’s won;
  Every problem is clear that’s solved—­
  The earth was round when it revolved!
  But Washington stood amid grave doubt
  With enemy forces camped about;
  He could not know how he would fare
  Till after he’d crossed the Delaware.

  Though the river was full of ice
  He did not think about it twice,
  But started across in the dead of night,
  The enemy waiting to open the fight. 
  Likely feeling pretty blue,
  Being human, same as you,
  But he was brave amid despair,
  And Washington crossed the Delaware!

  So when you’re with trouble beset,
  And your spirits are soaking wet,
  When all the sky with clouds is black,
  Don’t lie down upon your back
  And look at them.  Just do the thing;
  Though you are choked, still try to sing. 
  If times are dark, believe them fair,
  And you will cross the Delaware!

Joseph Morris.

RABBI BEN EZRA

(SELECTED VERSES)

To some people success is everything, and the easier it is gained the better.  To Browning success is nothing unless it is won by painful effort.  What Browning values is struggle.  Throes, rebuffs, even failure to achieve what we wish, are to be welcomed, for the effects of vigorous endeavor inweave themselves into our characters; moreover through struggle we lift ourselves from the degradation into which the indolent fall.  In the intervals of strife we may look back dispassionately upon what we have gone through, see where we erred and where we did wisely, watch the workings of universal laws, and resolve to apply hereafter what we have hitherto learned.