Courage – Edgar Albert Guest
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.
It Means:
despair – விரக்தி
flickered – சிறகடித்து
final tug – ஒரு பலமான இழுபறி
resort – உல்லாசப் போக்கிடம்
apt – பொருத்தமான
strain – முழுபலம்
pace – வேகம்
strive – போராடு
dazzling – திகைப்பூட்டும்
unwavering – உறுதியற்றது
ingrained – வேரூன்றிய
trait – பண்பு
creed – மதம்
Glossary
instantaneous – happening or done immediately
flickered – shone unsteadily
strive – make great effort
ingrained – firmly established and hard to change
About the Poet
Edgar Albert Guest (1881–1959) was a prolific England-born American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th century and became known as the People’s Poet. His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view of everyday life.