Be the Best – Summary & Analysis
Short Summary
- If you cannot be a tall pine tree on top of a hill, be the best small bush in the valley.
- Every position in life, no matter how humble, has value and importance.
- Success is not measured by size or prominence but by doing your best in your role.
- Small things like grass, streams, and stars make the world beautiful.
- Whatever position you hold in life, strive to be the very best at it.
Be the Best – Line by Line Analysis
Stanza 1: Lines 1-4
If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
The poem opens with a conditional statement using "if." The speaker sets up a situation where a person cannot achieve their highest ambition. A "pine on the top of the hill" is the tallest, most prominent position. It represents great success, fame, and importance. The pine tree stands above all others, visible from far away, receiving full sunshine. This image symbolizes reaching the top of your field.
Be a scrub in the valley — but be
If you cannot be a great pine tree, the speaker suggests you become a "scrub" in the valley. A scrub is a small, stunted shrub or bush that grows low to the ground. A valley is the low area between hills, far from the peak. This is the opposite of being on top of a hill. A scrub has no height, no prominence, and is easily overlooked. The dash after "valley" creates a pause, preparing us for an important condition.
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Here comes the crucial condition: "but be the best little scrub." Even though you cannot be the greatest thing, you can still be the best at what you are. A "rill" is a small stream or rivulet. The scrub grows beside this small stream, in a humble, hidden place. Yet the speaker urges you to be the best version of that scrub. Quality and excellence matter more than size or position.
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.
This line continues the message using different images: bush versus tree. A tree is larger than a bush. Trees provide more shade, look more impressive, and live longer. A bush is smaller and less important. Yet the message remains the same: if you cannot be a tree, be a bush, but be the best bush possible. Each thing has its own value and potential for excellence.
Stanza 2: Lines 5-8
If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,
Moving further down the scale of importance, the speaker now compares a bush to grass. Grass is even smaller and more humble than a bush. Many people walk on grass without noticing it. Nobody celebrates grass or makes monuments to it. Yet grass has its purpose and beauty. The speaker suggests that even if you cannot be important, you can still do something worthwhile.
And some highway happier make;
Even a "bit of the grass" makes a highway happier. Grass beside a road softens the hard concrete and asphalt. It adds beauty and freshness to an otherwise barren landscape. The grass makes the environment more pleasant for travelers. This teaches that even small contributions matter. Your work brings happiness and value to others, even if you work in an unnoticed position.
If you can't be a Muskie then just be a bass
The poem shifts from land creatures to water creatures. A Muskie (Muskellunge) is a large, powerful freshwater fish prized by fishermen. A bass is a smaller fish, less valuable and less sought after. A Muskie is rare and impressive. A bass is common and ordinary. The speaker says if you cannot be the impressive Muskie, be the humble bass instead.
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
The condition is clear: be the "liveliest" bass. "Liveliest" means most energetic, most active, most vibrant. Even though a bass is smaller and less valuable than a Muskie, a lively bass is still wonderful. It swims with energy and spirit. It brings life and movement to the lake. This teaches that energy, enthusiasm, and vitality matter more than size or status.
Stanza 3: Lines 9-12
We can't all be captains, we've got be crew,
Now the poem shifts from nature to society and human roles. "We can't all be captains" means we cannot all hold the highest positions. A captain is the leader of a ship, commanding and directing. The crew members work under the captain's leadership. The speaker says this is natural and necessary. Not everyone can be a leader. Most people must be part of a crew, working together toward common goals. This does not mean crew members are less valuable.
There's something for all of us here.
The speaker now speaks with certainty and hope. "There's something for all of us" means opportunities exist for everyone. No one is left out. No one is worthless or unnecessary. The phrase "for all of us" emphasizes inclusion. There is space for everyone to contribute to society. Everyone has a role to play and a purpose to fulfill.
There's big work to do and there's lesser to do,
The speaker acknowledges that society contains different types of work. Some work is "big"—important, visible, and carrying great responsibility. Some work is "lesser"—humble, simple, and less noticed. Yet all work is necessary. A doctor performs big work, but so does a nurse who helps the doctor. A company president does big work, but so does the janitor who keeps the office clean. All types of work are needed.
And the task we must do is the near.
Your task is what is near to you, what is in your current circumstances. You do not need to wait for a perfect opportunity or a high position. Your task is what is available right now, what is within your reach. Do the work that is near you, that is at hand. This is more important than dreaming of distant goals. The poem teaches focus and presence in your current role.
Stanza 4: Lines 13-16
If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,
The final stanza returns to nature for its closing comparisons. A highway is a major road that carries many people quickly to important destinations. A trail is a narrow path, often overgrown, used by fewer people. Yet trails have their own purpose and beauty. Some of the most beautiful natural scenery is accessed only by trails. They connect people to wild places that highways cannot reach.
If you can't be the sun then be a star;
The sun is the center of our solar system. It is enormous, hot, and blindingly bright. Everything depends on the sun. Stars are distant points of light in the night sky, smaller and less important than the sun. Yet stars have their own beauty. People navigate by stars, dream under stars, and find them comforting. A small star is still beautiful and serves important purposes.
It isn't by size that you win or you fail —
This is the poem's central message and conclusion. "It isn't by size" means that being big, tall, prominent, or important does not determine success or failure. This contradicts common ideas about success. Many people think big is better. The speaker rejects this idea completely. Small things can succeed. Big things can fail. Size is not the measure of worth.
Be the best of whatever you are!
The final line is the poem's main command and message. "Be the best" is an imperative. You must strive for excellence. "Of whatever you are" means in your current position and situation. Whether you are a scrub, grass, bass, crew member, trail, or star, be the best version of it. This is the single most important thing you can do. Quality and excellence matter in any role.
Be the Best – Word Notes
Pine: A type of tall tree that grows on hills and mountains. Represents prominence and height.
Hill: A raised area of land, elevated above the surrounding area. Represents high position and importance.
Scrub: A small, stunted shrub or bush that grows low to the ground. Represents humble position and small stature.
Valley: A low area of land between hills or mountains. Represents lowness and obscurity.
Rill: A small stream or rivulet of water. Represents small but beautiful natural things.
Bush: A woody plant smaller than a tree. Represents medium or less important position compared to trees.
Grass: The smallest and most common plant. Represents the humblest and most ordinary things.
Highway: A major road with many lanes that carries many vehicles. Represents important paths and major roles.
Muskie: A large, powerful freshwater fish found in North America. Represents impressive and valuable things.
Bass: A smaller freshwater fish, less valuable than Muskie. Represents ordinary and humble things.
Liveliest: Most energetic, most active, most full of life and spirit.
Trail: A narrow path, often through nature or wilderness. Represents lesser-known but beautiful paths.
Sun: The largest and most important star, center of our solar system. Represents greatness and central importance.
Star: A distant point of light in the night sky. Represents smaller beauty and distant hope.
Publication
"Be the Best" is an inspirational poem written by Douglas Malloch (1877-1938), an American poet, short-story writer, and journalist. The poem was published in the early twentieth century and has become one of his most famous and widely read works. Malloch was known as the "Lumberman's Poet" or "Lumberjack Poet" because of his deep connection to the lumber industry and forest settings in his work. Born in Muskegon, Michigan, which was a center of the lumbering industry, Malloch grew up surrounded by forests, logging camps, sawmills, and lumber yards. This background influenced his choice of natural imagery and his understanding of working-class people.
Today, "Be the Best" is widely taught in schools across India and other countries as part of English literature curricula in classes 8 through 10. The poem has become a classic inspirational text, quoted in motivational speeches and used to teach lessons about excellence, humility, and the value of all work. Its simple language and powerful message have made it timeless.
Context
Douglas Malloch lived during a time when American literature was exploring themes of the common person and honest work. The early twentieth century saw rapid industrialization and social change in America. Malloch's poetry celebrated ordinary workers—lumberjacks, laborers, and rural people—at a time when literature often focused on wealthy or educated people. His background in the lumber industry gave him firsthand knowledge of working people's lives and values. He understood their struggles and their pride in doing their jobs well.
The poem "Be the Best" reflects the work ethic and values of the lumber industry and rural America. It expresses the belief that every job has dignity, and that doing your work excellently matters more than the status of your position. During this period, the American Dream was being defined and redefined. Malloch's poem offers a different vision of success: not climbing to the top, but being the best at whatever you do. This message resonated with working people and continues to inspire readers today.
Setting
The poem's setting is nature and the natural world. Throughout the poem, we move through different natural environments and landscapes. We see hills, valleys, forests with trees and bushes, open areas with grass, streams and rivers with fish, and the sky with sun and stars. The setting is not a specific place but rather a generalized natural landscape that represents the entire world. The pine tree stands "on the top of the hill," which is high and exposed. The scrub grows "in the valley" beside a small stream, which is low and sheltered. The grass grows beside a highway, where humans pass by. The Muskie and bass swim in a lake. The trail winds through wilderness.
Each setting shows a different place in nature and in human life. By using natural settings, Malloch suggests that his message applies to all of nature and all of human society. The natural world provides examples of how different things have different roles but all have value. The setting also reflects the poet's own background in forests and lumber camps.
Title
The title "Be the Best" is short, direct, and powerful. It immediately tells the reader what the poem is about. The title is a command or imperative—"Be"—telling the reader to take action. It is not asking a question or making a suggestion. It is a strong demand. The word "best" is superlative, meaning the highest degree of good quality. It means not just good, but the very best, the highest standard. The simplicity of the title reflects the simplicity of the poem's message. There is no fancy language or hidden meaning. The title promises that the poem will teach the reader how to be excellent.
The full title of the poem is sometimes given as "Be the Best of Whatever You Are," which is more complete. This longer title shows that being the best applies to whatever your current situation is. You do not need to change your situation; you need to be the best at what you are already doing. The title sets up the reader's expectation for an inspirational and motivational poem about excellence.
Form and Language
Malloch wrote "Be the Best" using simple, direct language that is easy to understand. The poem does not use complex vocabulary or difficult sentence structures. Most words are common, everyday words that readers of all ages and backgrounds can understand. Words like "hill," "tree," "grass," and "star" are familiar to everyone. This simplicity is intentional and important. The poem's message is meant for everyone, not just educated or sophisticated readers. Simple language also makes the poem memorable and easy to remember. The straightforward style matches the straightforward message: be excellent in whatever you do.
The poem uses the structure of repeated conditional clauses. Nearly every line or stanza begins with "If you can't be..." This repetition creates a rhythmic pattern that is pleasant to read and hear. The "if...then" structure sets up choices and alternatives. It suggests that life offers many options, and we must choose which option best fits us.
The poem is organized into four stanzas of four lines each. Each stanza focuses on a different set of natural comparisons: trees and bushes, grass and highways, fish and water, roads and sky. Despite the simple language, the poem contains rich natural imagery. The reader can easily picture each image: a pine tree on a hill, a scrub in a valley, grass beside a road, fish in a lake. The language is concrete and visual, not abstract or difficult to visualize.
Meter and Rhyme
The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB in each stanza. In the first stanza, "hill" rhymes with "rill" (A), and "be" rhymes with "tree" (B). In the second stanza, "grass" rhymes with "bass" (A), and "make" rhymes with "lake" (B). In the third stanza, "here" rhymes with "near" (A), and "trail" rhymes with "fail" (B). In the final stanza, the rhyme scheme is slightly different but still maintains the alternating pattern. This regular rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical, song-like quality. The alternating rhymes create a bouncing rhythm that is pleasant to hear when the poem is read aloud.
The poem does not follow a strict metrical pattern like iambic pentameter. Instead, it uses relatively free verse within the rhyming structure. Lines vary somewhat in length and syllable count. This flexibility allows Malloch to maintain natural speech patterns while also creating rhyme. The poem sounds like someone speaking to you directly, not like a formal, highly structured poem. The lack of strict meter makes the poem accessible and easy to read aloud naturally.
The combination of regular rhyme with flexible meter creates a good balance. The rhyme makes the poem memorable and musical. The flexible meter makes it sound natural and conversational. This combination is effective for a poem meant to inspire and motivate a wide audience. The form reinforces the message: excellence can be achieved in different ways, not just through rigid rules.
Be the Best – Themes
1. Excellence in Any Role or Position
The central theme of "Be the Best" is that excellence is possible and desirable in any role or position, no matter how humble. The poem repeatedly emphasizes that you should "be the best" at whatever you are. A scrub in a valley can be excellent. Grass beside a road can be excellent. A small bass in a lake can be excellent. This theme teaches readers that your position in life does not determine your worth or your potential for excellence. A janitor who cleans excellently is more valuable than a careless manager. A street sweeper who works with pride and skill contributes more to society than a lazy CEO. The poem values quality of work above all else.
2. Value and Dignity of Humble Work
Another important theme is that humble work has dignity and value. The poem uses examples from nature of things that are small and overlooked but still important: scrubs, grass, streams, small fish, trails. These things seem unimportant compared to pines, highways, Muskies, or the sun. Yet each has its place and purpose. Grass beautifies highways. Trails lead to beautiful places. Small streams support life. Bass live lively lives in lakes. By elevating these small things, Malloch argues that all work has value. A nurse who cares for patients humbly has dignity. A farmer who grows food has importance. A custodian who keeps buildings clean contributes to society. The poem teaches that we should not feel ashamed of humble positions or humble work.
3. Self-Acceptance and Contentment with Your Situation
The poem teaches a lesson about accepting your current situation and circumstances rather than always wishing you were someone else or somewhere else. Many people spend their lives wishing they were richer, more famous, more important, or more powerful. They are unhappy with what they are. The poem says this approach is wrong. Instead, accept what you are and do your best with it. You may never be a tall pine on a hilltop. That is all right. Be the best scrub in the valley. The poem does not say you cannot try to improve yourself. But it says that improvement means becoming the best version of what you are, not necessarily becoming something different. Self-acceptance is the first step to true success and happiness.
4. Size and Status Do Not Determine Success
The poem explicitly states: "It isn't by size that you win or you fail." This challenges the common belief that being big, important, famous, or powerful is necessary for success. In the world's eyes, the pine is more successful than the scrub, the highway more important than the trail, the sun more significant than a star. The poem rejects these judgments. Success is not measured by size, prominence, or status. It is measured by excellence and quality of work. A small, quiet person who does excellent work is more successful than a famous person who does poor work. A humble business that serves its customers excellently is more successful than a large corporation that ignores quality. This theme is revolutionary and comforting. It means that anyone, in any position, can achieve true success simply by being excellent at their work.
Be the Best – Symbols
The Pine Tree on the Hill
The pine tree standing tall on the top of a hill is the central symbol of high achievement, prominence, and success as the world measures it. A pine tree is one of the tallest and most impressive trees. Growing on the top of a hill makes it even more prominent—it is elevated above everything else, visible from far away, reaching toward the sky. The pine tree would receive the most sunshine and be the most noticed. In the poem's symbolism, the pine represents the goals that people normally chase: fame, wealth, power, high position, and recognition. The pine is what everyone wants to be. However, the poem's message is that even if you cannot be a pine, you can still achieve true success in a different form.
The Scrub in the Valley
The scrub growing in the valley represents humility, acceptance, and the hidden beauty of small things. A scrub is stunted and small, with no height or prominence. Growing in a valley means it is low, out of sight, and far from the peak. Nobody would notice the scrub or celebrate it. From the world's perspective, the scrub is a failure or a lesser version of a tree. Yet the poem says the scrub can be beautiful and successful if it is the "best little scrub" possible. The scrub symbolizes humble people who work quietly without seeking recognition: nurses, teachers, custodians, and laborers. The poem argues that these people, if they do their work excellently, are more valuable and more beautiful than famous people who do poor work. The scrub teaches that true worth comes from within, not from external status.
The Trail and Highway
The highway symbolizes important, visible, widely-used paths and roles. Highways carry many people quickly and efficiently. They are built with care and resources. Everyone notices them. Highways represent important jobs, famous achievements, and paths that are valued by society. In contrast, the trail symbolizes small, hidden, lesser-known paths and roles. Few people travel trails. Trails are rough and difficult. Yet the poem says trails are beautiful. Some of the most stunning natural scenery is accessible only by trails. Many people find that trails are more rewarding than highways because they lead to places of natural beauty. This symbol teaches that just because a role is not widely noticed or valued does not mean it is not important. Sometimes the best paths are not the obvious, major ones.
The Sun and Star
The sun and star are the most obvious symbols in the poem. The sun represents the greatest, most important, most powerful, and most visible thing in the sky. Everything depends on the sun for life and light. The sun is the center of our solar system. A star, by contrast, is a distant point of light, seemingly insignificant compared to the sun. Yet the poem elevates the star to equal dignity with the sun. A star is still beautiful. People navigate by stars. Stars inspire wonder and hope. People write poems and songs about stars. The sun and star together teach that importance and size are not measures of beauty or worth. A small star that inspires and guides people has value equal to the sun itself. This symbol is particularly powerful because it applies to human relationships: a small act of kindness can have as much value as a large achievement.
Be the Best – Literary Devices
Metaphor
Example: The entire poem is an extended metaphor where natural things (pine, scrub, grass, Muskie, bass, highway, trail, sun, star) represent human positions and roles in society.
Explanation: Metaphor means comparing one thing to another by saying one thing IS another. The poem does not literally tell people to be trees or grass. Instead, these natural things stand for human roles and positions. The pine tree represents important positions, the scrub represents humble positions, and so on. Extended metaphor means the comparison continues throughout the poem. This device makes the poem more poetic and memorable than if the poet had simply said "accept your position and do your best."
Repetition
Example: The phrase "If you can't be..." is repeated at the beginning of many lines and stanzas: "If you can't be a pine," "If you can't be a bush," "If you can't be a Muskie," "If you can't be a highway," "If you can't be the sun."
Explanation: Repetition means saying the same words or phrases multiple times. This creates rhythm and emphasis. The repeated "If you can't be..." structure makes the poem easier to remember and more powerful. It reinforces the message that there are many positions to choose from, and in each position, you should be the best. The repetition also creates a supportive, almost chanting quality that encourages and motivates readers.
Antithesis
Example: The poem repeatedly contrasts opposites: pine vs. scrub, hill vs. valley, bush vs. grass, Muskie vs. bass, highway vs. trail, sun vs. star.
Explanation: Antithesis is placing opposite ideas next to each other to emphasize the contrast. By comparing these opposites, the poem shows that different things have equal value despite their differences. The contrast makes each image stand out more clearly. It also shows that the choice is not between being good or bad, but between being a pine or a scrub, and either way, you should do your best.
Parallel Structure
Example: Each stanza follows a similar structure: First line sets up "If you can't be [big thing]," second line says "be [small thing]," and the final lines add a condition for excellence.
Explanation: Parallel structure means using the same grammatical pattern repeatedly. This makes the poem organized and easy to follow. It also reinforces the message. The pattern shows that the message applies to every situation and every comparison. Readers expect each stanza to follow the same pattern, making the poem predictable in a good way.
Transferred Epithet
Example: "And some highway happier make." The adjective "happier" belongs to the highway grammatically, but logically the grass makes the highway happier. It's the grass that is happier or makes others happier.
Explanation: Transferred epithet means an adjective is transferred from the person or thing that truly deserves it to another nearby noun. This creates poetic effect and subtle meaning. In this line, by saying the highway is made "happier," the poet suggests that even inanimate objects are affected by the grass's beauty. The transferred epithet adds depth and poetic quality to a simple statement.
Imagery
Example: "The best little scrub by the side of the rill," "the liveliest bass in the lake," "trails" through wilderness, stars in the night sky.
Explanation: Imagery means creating vivid pictures using descriptive language. The poem is full of visual images from nature. Readers can picture pine trees, valleys, grass beside roads, fish in water, and stars in the sky. These concrete images make the poem more interesting and memorable than abstract concepts. The natural imagery also connects the poem's message to the natural world, suggesting that its truth is universal and timeless.
Conditional Clauses
Example: "If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill, Be a scrub in the valley — but be / The best little scrub by the side of the rill."
Explanation: Conditional clauses use "if...then" structure to set up choices and consequences. The poem uses many conditional clauses to show that if one goal is impossible, there is another worthwhile goal available. This structure suggests that life presents us with choices, and we must choose wisely. The "then" part (what you should do if you can't be something) always includes the condition "be the best."
Alliteration
Example: "best little" (b sound), "happier highway" (h sound), "liveliest" (l sound).
Explanation: Alliteration is repetition of the same beginning sound in nearby words. The poem uses alliteration to create musical quality and to emphasize certain words or phrases. Alliteration makes the poem more pleasant to hear when read aloud. It also helps certain important ideas stick in the reader's mind.
Rhetorical Question (Implicit)
Example: The entire poem's structure asks implicitly: "What if you can't be the best? What should you do?" Though not asked directly, the poem's answers to these implicit questions are clear.
Explanation: A rhetorical question asks a question but doesn't expect a literal answer. The reader answers the question in their mind. Though "Be the Best" doesn't use explicit rhetorical questions, it is structured around implicit questions about what to do when you cannot achieve the highest position. The poem's message answers these unasked questions.
Allusion
Example: The poem alludes to common ideas about success and importance in society, then rejects or challenges them.
Explanation: Allusion means referring to ideas, events, or works without directly explaining them. The poem alludes to the widespread belief that "bigger is better" and that importance equals size. It assumes readers know these common beliefs, then rejects them. This makes the poem's argument more powerful because it contradicts what readers may already believe.