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 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 we 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 what you are!