英語散文: Be the best of whatever you are

Title: Be the best of whatever you are
by Douglas Malloch

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---but be
The happiest grass by the road.
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!

中文:
做最好的自己
道格拉斯.麥洛克

如果你當不成山巔的一棵勁鬆,
就做山穀裏的小樹吧---但務必
做溪流邊最棒的一棵小樹;
當不了樹就做一叢灌木,
當不成灌木還可以做小草---但務必
做路邊最快樂的一株小草.
如果你不是大梭魚就做一尾鱸魚吧,
但要做湖裏最活潑的小鱸魚!

我們不能都做船長,必須有人當船員,
可每個人都有自己的事兒,
有的事情大,有的事情小,
而你要完成的任務就 近在咫尺.

如果你不能做大道就做一條小徑,
若是不能做太陽就做星星;
決定成敗的不是你的大小---
隻要你做最好的自己!

(ZT)