Back to: Maharashtra Board Class 10th English Guide & Notes
Table of Contents
Introduction
The poem, “The Will to Win” is written by poet Berton Braley. Through the poem, he explains the importance of efforts towards a goal. He states that if a person truly desires something, he will go out and battle for it, working day and night to get it. If he wants to achieve a goal, he must devote time and give up on excuses. A lot of people appreciate victory and everything that comes with it, but people who are prepared to put in the time and effort necessary to prepare for a victory are far rarer.
About the poet
Berton Braley was born in Madison in the state of Wisconsin. He inherited his father’s literary skills and had already proved it at an early age. Braley was known for being a man who was constantly optimistic and believed that everything is possible.
Theme
Berton Braley’s inspiring poem “The Will to Win” is about a burning desire to pursue a personal goal with unrelenting and devouring zeal. The poem tells us that if you grasp hold of what you desire and focus everything you have on it, you will eventually receive it. The poet encourages us to sacrifice time, peace, and sleep in order to achieve the most essential goal in life. Everything else is meant to take a back seat. Whatever the case may be, let go of all fear. Nothing will be able to stop you from attaining what you desire if you show confidence, faith, and trust.
Structure
The poem has no rhyme scheme but rhymes are used randomly all through the poem. The most prevalent form may be found in sentences that end with the word “it”, for example, “for it, of it, without it, about it, beget it, sweat for it, fret for it and so on”. A few other examples are” capacity, pertinacity, sagacity, and pain, brain”.
Poem
If you want a thing bad enough to go out and fight for it, work day and night for it, give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it If all that you dream and scheme is about it and life seems useless and worthless without it If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it and lose all your terror of the opposition for it.
The poet begins by talking about wanting a thing bad enough (having a strong passion for something) and then goes on to say that in order to achieve something, you must be willing to give it your all. You must be willing to dedicate your time and effort, as well as give up on excuses that prevent you from accomplishing your goals, because without those accomplishments, life seems worthless. He highlights the need for scheme (strategy) in achieving your goals. He explains that instead of worrying about terror of opposition (competition), you will be able to focus on your strengths, if you willingly sweat (work hard) and plan for it (goals).
If you simply go after that thing that you want with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence and stern for tenacity If neither cold poverty, famish or gout or sickness or pain of body and brain can keep you away from the thing that you want, If dogged and grim you be size and beget it, with the help of GOD you’ll get it!
Braley asserts, that you will succeed if you just go after what you want with all of your strength, sagacity (great wisdom), faith, hope, and confidence, as well as tenacity (firmness). If neither frigid poverty, hunger, gout, disease, or bodily and mental agony can prevent you from attaining the thing you desire, if you’re dogged (staunch) and grim about it, you’ll obtain the chosen objective it with the assistance and blessings of GOD!
Conclusion
This is motivational piece of work. It inspires people to set and achieve goals. The poem is filled with suggestions for inculcation of qualities and attitudes that might help one succeed. The poem’s phrases are all quite powerful, leading us to persevere and keep striving for achievement.