Be The Best
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.
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!
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.
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 !
-Poet- Douglas Malloch
lets listen poem (Thanks-Periwinkle)
Introduction and explanation
The first lesson is a beautiful poem titled ‘Be the best’. In the poem the poet Douglas Malloch has shown us the importance of existence. He says, “It doesn’t matter how big or small you are, it is only important that you exist.” So let’s start with the poem.Be the best 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. In the above lines the poet to tell us that if you can’t be like a pine tree which is at the top of the hill, at least try to be a scrub in the valley. The Scrub which is at its best by the stream side. If there are difficulties to be a tree at least try to be a bush. Coming to the second stanza, the poet says: If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass. And some highway happier make; If you are a muskie then just be a bass - But the liveliest bass in the lake! Here the poet says that if is difficult being even a bush try to be grass which grows on the highway. Make it happier i.e. make the highway pleasant. If you can’t be a muskie try to be a bass. But a bass which is liveliest in the lake making everyone feel your presence
Que:- Now let’s start with the activities: children, tell me what is the main difference between a pine tree and a scrub? Ans:- A scrub is an area covered with small, low, plants whereas pine tree is very tall.
Que:- What do people like to see along the highway?
Ans:- People like to see green grass along the highway
Que:- What is the message given at the end?
Ans:- At the end the poet gives the message that size doesn’t matter. What should be remembered is that you should be the best whatever you may be.
Que:- Well said! Now let’s do some activities. Can you see these words on the screen (Show words in Q1 pg 4)
Ans:- Yes ma’am.
Que:- Here are two circles: one is small and one is big. You have to write big sized things in big circle and small sized things in small circle.
Ans:- The bigger things are: pine, tree, muskie, lake, highway, sun. And the smaller things are: bass, bush, scrub, rill, star, and trail.
Exercise-
Be The Best-Poem-Class 8th English-Page no-3-PDF
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