Rethinking the Poem “Thinking”

I found this poem on the web entitled “Think.” The author was listed as “Anonymous.” It’s male centric and I’ve been trying to think of a way to modernize it so it’s more applicable to anyone, male or female. Now, according to Wikipedia, the original was actually written by Walter D. Wintle in the late 19^th or early 20^th century:

Thinking

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 fellow’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 man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can!

–Walter D. Wintle

It’s a waste of time writing a variant of it, but it was fun trying:

Thinking (variation):

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 anyone’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 hand;
But sooner or later the one who wins
Is the one who thinks “I can!”

–Walter D. Wintle with my edits in bold-face type.

The poem is still under copyright so this is just me fooling around. I imagine Wintle is turning in his grave.