Courage

 

Camila Quintero Franco

Courage isn’t a brilliant dash,

A daring deed in a moment’s flash;

It isn’t an instantaneous thing

Born of despair with a sudden spring

It isn’t a creature of flickered hope

Or the final tug at a slipping rope;

But it’s something deep in the soul of man

That is working always to serve some plan.

Courage isn’t the last resort

In the work of life or the game of sport;

It isn’t a thing that a man can call

At some future time when he’s apt to fall;

If he hasn’t it now, he will have it not

When the strain is great and the pace is hot.

For who would strive for a distant goal

Must always have courage within his soul.

Courage isn’t a dazzling light

That flashes and passes away from sight;

It’s a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait

With the patience to work and the strength to wait.

It’s part of a man when his skies are blue,

It’s part of him when he has work to do.

The brave man never is freed of it.

He has it when there is no need of it.

Courage was never designed for show;

It isn’t a thing that can come and go;

It’s written in victory and defeat

And every trial a man may meet.

It’s part of his hours, his days and his years,

Back of his smiles and behind his tears.

Courage is more than a daring deed:

It’s the breath of life and a strong man’s creed.

Edgar A. Guest

TEAM WORK

It's all very well to have courage and skill

And it's fine to be counted a star,

But the single deed with its touch of thrill

Doesn't tell the man you are;

For there's no lone hand in the game we play,

We must work to a bigger scheme,

And the thing that counts in the world to-day

Is, How do you pull with the team?

They may sound your praise and call you great,

They may single you out for fame,

But you must work with your running mate

Or you'll never win the game;

Oh, never the work of life is done

By the man with a selfish dream,

For the battle is lost or the battle is won

By the spirit of the team.

You may think it fine to be praised for skill,

But a greater thing to do

Is to set your mind and set your will

On the goal that's just in view;

It's helping your fellow man to score

When his chances hopeless seem;

It’s forgetting self till the game is o're

And fighting for the team. 

Edgar Albert Guest