Summary of the poem be the best of whatever you are by Douglas Malloch

"Be The Best Of Whatever You Are"

                                                                                                      - Douglas Malloch

 BE YOURSELF AND CELEBRATE YOURSELF
                                                      - MS. PHOENIX

     "Be The Best Of Whatever You Are" was written by Douglas Malloch. He was an American poet, short story writer and editor of a trade paper in Chicago. This poem was written in simple language but expressed the deep meaning of self confidence and self appreciation is important. Here, the poet tries to convey everyone is unique and everyone has different qualities. So the people are not to worry about who they are? and what can they do? Everyone should work hard and do best on our performance. The poet says to "Celebrate Our Own self" leads to great implementation in our life. In this materialistic World mostly people felt alone and tired of their work but this poem shares the strong motivational message among them. "Be The Best" by the way you are.

          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.

Mother Nature is the beginning of everything. Like that the poet takes the examples from nature and starts his poem. In the first stanza, the poet says  pine tree is more valuable and durable wood which grows on the top of the hill. If we are not able to live like a pine tree then try to be like a scrub(long grass) in the valley. But be the best scrub near the stream which grows well. Then the poet again teaches us do not  worry if you are not a tree then happy to be bush . For example, if you are not a shooting star then be happy to be a star in the sky.

             If you can't be a bush be a bit of  the grass,

             And some highway happier make;

             If you can't be a Muskie  then just be a bass -

             But the liveliest bass in the lake!

In the second stanza, the poet says if we are not able to live like a bush then try to be like a little grass which makes  the highway looks greenish and happier. If we cannot live like a Muskie which is a large fresh water fish in North America then try to be a liveliest (active)bass fish in the lake.   

              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 you must do is the near.

In the third stanza, the poet says if we cannot be a captain of the team then try to be the best member of the team and play well. Then the poet tries to convey everybody has some sort of work in this world. someone have lot of works to do and others have small works to do. But do the work and give your best on it.

                 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!

In the fourth stanza, the poet says if we are not like a highway which helps for transportation of many vehicles. then try to be a trail (path) which helps the people to reach their place. If we are not able to shine like a bright sun in the morning. Then try to be a smiling twinkling star which gives more beauty to the sky at night.

Finally the poet says the size of winning or losing is doesn't matter but the matter is gives our level best by the way we are.