Be the best of whatever you are summary and introduction

 Here is the summary and the introduction to the poem Be the Best of Whatever You are. The poem has been written by Douglas Malloch.

Be the Best of Whatever You are

Introduction

This poem is written by an American poet Douglas Malloch. As the title refers, this poem is a piece of advice for everyone, particularly the young people. 

This piece of advice is really helpful in practical life. Until now, this principle has guided all the successful people and enhanced their mental abilities which led to their success. 

The poet took many natural objects as examples to promote the central idea of this poem.

Moreover, he asserted that nobody of us is created purposelessly. However, our purpose is hidden somewhere in this world. 

Life is the quest of finding our purpose, excelling in it and achieving success. The poem has a pluralistic view about life because it talks about the multiplicity of possibilities in life. It contains twenty-eight verses.

Summary of the Poem 

The poem begins by indirectly referring to the meaning of life. Meaning of life is the purpose to shape ourselves and to live life. 

In this respect, the poet puts some of the possibilities before the reader. He says that if your circumstances are not favorable for becoming a pine on the top of the hell, it is not the end of life. You still have the option of becoming a little scrub in the valley. 

The poet here makes the actual point of the poem: be the best little scrub. He is implying that it does not matter what you become, what matters is how best you have shaped yourself. 

By talking using the examples of 'pine' and 'scrub', the poet has said something more: the value of your existence is not measured by your size but by your excellence. 

Again, the poet suggests the same point in the way that if you cannot be a tree (which is usually tall), be a bit of the grass. Tree and grass are largely different in sizes. But the poet is again talking about becoming excellent whether in the form of a tree or a bit of the grass. 

Then the poet talks of the two fishes: muskie and bass. He says that if you cannot become a muskie, be a bass but you should be the liveliest bass in the lake. 

The poet says that all of us cannot be the captains; some have to be the crew. Here he is saying that we must do the tasks that are suitable for us. He repeats the point by giving examples of train and train and sun and star. In the end, he says, 

"It isn't by size that you win or you fail."

Also Read:

1. The theme of the poem Be the best of Whatever you are

2. The message of the poem be the best of whatever you are

3. Paraphrasing of the poem be the best of whatever you are

4. Explanation of the Poem be the Best of Whatever you are

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