Thinking  by Walter D. Wintle

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you've lost;
For out in this world we find
Success begins with a person's will
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the person who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.

This week I would like you to learn the poem 'Thinking' by Walter D. Winkle. 

- You could do a performance of the poem or recite the poem off by heart.

What is the poem about?

How is it inspirational?

How might you perform it?

What does it mean to you?

Is there any new vocabulary for you to research?

Can you write your own personal inspirational verse?

I would also like you to create an inspirational poster using quotes from the poem.  Some examples of which are below:

Walter D. Wintle attempts to convince the reader that ANYBODY can do anything as long as they have the correct mindset. Wintle describes this perfect mindset in the poem by explaining that your only competition is the person looking back at you in the mirror. The poem also explores the idea of the underdog when he writes "Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man.  Overall the strongest idea the poet conveys in the poem is this:

the mindset a person possesses will determine their level of success or failure.