History & Politics
Passing the Buck
From Hello, Boys! (1919)
Whatever the task that comes your way,
Just take it as part of your luck.
Look it right square in the eyes, and say,
‘This is my task, I’ll do it to-day’:
Don’t pass the buck.
Oh! whether you cook, or whether you fight,
Or whether you trundle a truck,
Just tackle your job and do it right:
Don’t pass the buck.
The wheels of the earth have gone, alack!
Deep into war’s mire and muck.
If you want to put it again on its track,
Don’t shift your load on another man’s back:
Don’t pass the buck.
Cite this poem
MLA
Wilcox, Ella Wheeler. “Passing the Buck.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wilcox/854/.
Chicago
Wilcox, Ella Wheeler. “Passing the Buck.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wilcox/854/.
Read this poem with the Codex →