He brought me his report card from the teacher and he said <br />He wasn't very proud of it and sadly bowed his head. <br />He was excellent in reading, but arithmetic, was fair, <br />And I noticed there were several 'unsatisfactorys' there; <br />But one little bit of credit which was given brought me joy— <br />He was 'excellent in effort,' and I fairly hugged the boy. <br />'Oh, it doesn't make much difference what is written on your card,' <br />I told that little fellow, 'if you're only trying hard. <br />The 'very goods' and 'excellents' are fine, I must agree, <br />But the effort you are making means a whole lot more to me; <br />And the thing that's most important when this card is put aside <br />Is to know, in spite of failure, that to do your best you've tried. <br />'Just keep excellent in effort—all the rest will come to you. <br />There isn't any problem but some day you'll learn to do, <br />And at last, when you grow older, you will come to understand <br />That by hard and patient toiling men have risen to command <br />And some day you will discover when a greater goal's at stake <br />That better far than brilliance is the effort you will make.'<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/effort-5/
