Start Where You Stand
Berton Braley
Start where you stand and never mind the past,
Ā Ā Ā Ā The past won’t help you in beginning new,
Ā Ā If you have left it all behind at last
Ā Ā Ā Ā Why, that’s enough, you’re done with it, you’re through;
Ā Ā This is another chapter in the book,
Ā Ā Ā Ā This is another race that you have planned,
Ā Ā Don’t give the vanished days a backward look,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Start where you stand.
Ā Ā The world won’t care about your old defeats
Ā Ā Ā Ā If you can start anew and win success,
Ā Ā The future is your time, and time is fleet
Ā Ā Ā Ā And there is much of work and strain and stress;
Ā Ā Forget the buried woes and dead despairs,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Here is a brand new trial right at hand,
Ā Ā The future is for him who does and dares,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Start where you stand.
Ā Ā Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid,
Ā Ā Ā Ā To-day’s the thing, to-morrow soon will be;
Ā Ā Get in the fight and face it unafraid,
Ā Ā Ā Ā And leave the past to ancient history;
Ā Ā What has been, has been; yesterday is dead
Ā Ā Ā Ā And by it you are neither blessed nor banned,
Ā Ā Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Start where you stand.
