Don’t Give Up!

Summary

This poem is about how we should never give up, even though our results may not be positive and we may not see progress at this moment. We should keep trying because hard work and dedication never go to waste. They will definitely show up at some point in your life. Even if we fail at something, being persistent will only get us closer to achieving it. 

Stanza by stanza explanation

If you’ve tried and have not won,
Never stop for crying;
All’s that’s great and good is done
Just by patient trying. 

In the first stanza, the poet discusses how people can become demotivated and lose hope after trying something new. They don't realise that you won't be a winner if you fail at something and waste time thinking about it but practising or working towards it might. So, there is no time to waste; you must keep trying.

Though young birds, in flying, fall,
Still, their wings grow stronger;
And the next time, they can keep
Up a little longer. 

In the second stanza, the poet speaks about a bird and uses it as a perfect example to explain why we should not give up. When it is young, a small bird tries to fly and fails a million times, but it doesn't give up. It tries again, and the next time, it flies higher. We humans should learn from these animals because, although the bird fails a million times, it keeps trying, and one day, it is successful and can fly free for the rest of its life. 

Though the sturdy oak has known
Many a blast that bowed her,
She has risen again and grown
Loftier and prouder.

In the third stanza, the poet uses the oak tree as an example for us not to give up and says that every time it breaks, it grows stronger and prouder the next time. We humans should take that example and think that every time we fail, we should get back up stronger and harder than anything else. We shouldn't stay on the ground and admit defeat because then we will never achieve anything we want to. 

If by easy work you beat,
Who the more will prize you?
Gaining victory from defeat -
That’s the test that tries you!

In the fourth stanza, the poet speaks about how, when you don't work hard and win, what's the point of winning? The best feeling to win is when you learn from a loss or push yourself to the limit, knowing that no one else has worked as hard as you and that you deserve to win. 

Conclusion

This poem tells us all about how we should never give up. By being persistent, we can achieve so many things. We should always put our best foot forward, work hard towards what we want, and make sure that no one else can work as hard. We have to make sure that we are the best versions of ourselves.