Classic Poem

Start where you stand and never mind the past;
— The past won't help you in beginning new;
If you have left it all behind at last
— Why, that's enough, you're done with it, you're through;
This is another chapter in the book;
— This is another race that you have planned;
Don't give the vanished days a backward look;
— Start where you stand.

The world won't care about your old defeats
— If you can start anew and win success;
The future is your time, and time is fleet
— And there is much of work and strain and stress;
Forget the buried woes and dead despairs;
— Here is a brand-new trial right at hand;
The future is for him who does and dares;
— Start where you stand.

Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid;
— Today's the thing, tomorrow soon will be;
Get in the fight and face it unafraid,
— And leave the past to ancient history;
What has been, has been; yesterday is dead
— And by it you are neither blessed nor banned;
Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead;
— Start where you stand.

Start where you stand and never mind the past;
— The past won't help you in beginning new;
If you have left it all behind at last
— Why, that's enough, you're done with it, you're through;
This is another chapter in the book;
— This is another race that you have planned;
Don't give the vanished days a backward look;
— Start where you stand.

The world won't care about your old defeats
— If you can start anew and win success;
The future is your time, and time is fleet
— And there is much of work and strain and stress;
Forget the buried woes and dead despairs;
— Here is a brand-new trial right at hand;
The future is for him who does and dares;
— Start where you stand.

Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid;
— Today's the thing, tomorrow soon will be;
Get in the fight and face it unafraid,
— And leave the past to ancient history;
What has been, has been; yesterday is dead
— And by it you are neither blessed nor banned;
Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead;
— Start where you stand.