Loser and Victor

He was beaten from the start,
Beaten by his doubting heart,
And he had a ready ear
For the busy tongue of fear,
And he had a timid mind
Unto fretfulness inclined,
Filled with many reasons why
It was vain for him to try.

Given a task he'd shake his head,
"Can't do that!" he often said,
"Times are hard and none will stay,
Listening to the words I say.
It is futile now to try,
People simply will not buy!"
Thus he walked the streets of trade,
Both discouraged and afraid.

But another kind of man
Thought this way: "Perhaps I can!
If I will supply the pluck,
Fortune may provide the luck.
If I have the grit to try,
There are people who may buy;
Anyhow, I'll not submit
To defeat before I'm hit."