IF you’ve grumbled through the day
Without driving care away,
If in spite of all your grouches
Troubles on you have kept piling;
If regardless of your kicking
And your cussing, they’re still sticking,
Why not switch your tactics, mister,
And try smiling?
If your frowning will not chase ’em,
Why not grin a bit, and face ’em?
If your worries seem to like it
When your meanness they are riling;
If your gloomy disposition
Doesn’t better your condition,
Why not switch your methods, mister,
And try smiling?
If your constant whining, swearing,
Do not better your wayfaring;
If you find your foes no kinder
After them you’ve been reviling;
If they keep right on assailing,
Quite regardless of your wailing,
Why not switch your style of warfare
And try smiling?
(Edgar Albert Guest)
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Based on Topics: War & Peace Poems, Smiling PoemsBased on Keywords: tactics, grumbled, assailing, meanness, wayfaring, reviling, grouches, cussing, riling