author
Douglas Malloch
1877–1938
Best remembered as the "Lumberman’s Poet," this American writer brought the voices of forests, mills, and everyday work into warm, memorable verse. His poems often carry a plainspoken encouragement that still feels fresh.
1 Audiobook
The woods
by Douglas Malloch
About the author
Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Douglas Malloch (May 5, 1877 – July 2, 1938) was an American poet, short-story writer, and editor whose work grew out of the lumber world around him. He became closely associated with the trade paper American Lumberman, where his writing helped earn him the nickname "the Lumberman’s Poet."
Malloch wrote about woods, work, character, and ordinary life in a direct, accessible style. He is especially remembered for inspirational pieces such as Be the Best of Whatever You Are, along with other poems and stories that connected the language of labor and nature with simple encouragement.
Though he was rooted in a specific time and industry, his best-known lines have lasted because they speak so clearly to ambition, humility, and doing one’s part well. His work remains appealing to readers who like poetry that is sincere, musical, and easy to carry with them.