History & Politics

Passing the Buck

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850–1919

From Hello, Boys! (1919)

History & Politics

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.

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/.

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