A couple EAG poems sent to friends

As Father's Day looms, this coming Sunday - June 20th, I decided to send a copy of Edgar A. Guest's poem, "A Man" to my 3 sons and 3 son-in-laws. They are all fathers - and good fathers at that. Although I don't have access to all Edgar's poems, it's fair to say that there are very few situations or events that he has not addressed in one form or other. Here is his poem "A Man".

A Man by: Edgar A. Guest

A man doesn’t whine at his losses.
A man doesn’t whimper and fret,
Or rail at the weight of his crosses
And ask life to rear him a pet.
A man doesn’t grudgingly labor
Or look upon toil as a blight;
A man doesn’t sneer at his neighbor
Or sneak from a cause that is right.

A man doesn’t sulk when another
Succeeds where his efforts have failed;
Doesn’t keep all his praise for the brother
Whose glory is publicly hailed;
And pass by the weak and the humble
As though they were not of his clay;
A man doesn’t ceaselessly grumble
When things are not going his way.

A man looks on woman as tender
And gentle, and stands at her side
At all times to guard and defend her,
And never to scorn or deride.
A man looks on life as a mission,
To serve, just so far as he can;
A man holds his noblest ambition
On earth is to live as a man.


On June 19th, the daughter of a friend of mine is getting married. I sent him a copy of Edgar's poem, "At Her Wedding". It's an antidote that most all parents of daughters that are heading to the alter can relate to.

At Her Wedding by Edgar A. Guest

I came across ‘em, by the stair,
Those two old women simpering there,
Sniffling, as if they both had colds,
And were a pair of nine-year olds.
“What’s wrong,” said I, “and why these tears?
You’ve thought about this day for years,
And now it’s come, why cry this way?
Remember, it’s her wedding day!”

”I know,” said Aunt Eliza, “I
Know very well I shouldn’t cry,
But— “ here the other aunt began,
“You can’t explain it to a man,
Nor can you possibly reveal
The dreadful things we women feel.
Men think a wedding should be gay,
And so they never cry this way!”

”Oh, bawl your heads off!” I replied,
“I’m on my way to kiss the bride,”
And left that funny red-nosed pair
Still sorrowfully sniffling there,
But at her door, I seemed to note
A curious tightening round my throat,
And had to stop, to my surprise,
To wipe some tears drops from my eyes.


I'd like to add another one of Edgar's poems, appropriate to those getting married in June (or any other month). It's called "the June Couple". It's more like sage observations and advise put into the form of a poem. Here is "The June Couple".

The June Couple by Edgar A. Guest

She is fair to see and sweet
Dainty from her head to feet,
Modest as her blushing shows,
Happy, as her smiles disclose,
And the young man at her side
Nervously attempts to hide
Underneath visage grim
That the fuss is bothering him.

Pause a moment, happy pair!
This is not the station where
Romance ends, and wooing stops
And the charm from courtship drops;
This is but the outward gate
Where the souls of mortals mate,
But the border of the land
You must travel hand in hand.
You who come to marriage bring
All your tenderness, and cling
Steadfastly to all the ways
That have marked your wooing days.
You are only starting out
On life’s roadways, hedged about
Thick with roses and tares,
Sweet delights and bitter cares.

Heretofore you’ve only played
At love’s game, young man and maid;
Only known it at its best;
Now you’ll have to face its test.
You must prove your love worthwhile,
Something time cannot defile,
Something neither care not pain
Can destroy or mar or stain.

You are now about to show
Whether love is real or no;
Yonder down the lane of life
You will find, as man and wife,
Sorrows, disappointments, doubt,
Hope will almost flicker out;
But if rightly you are wed
Love will linger where you tread.

There are joys that you will share,
Joys to balance every care;
Arm in arm remain, and you
Will not fear the storms that brew,
If when you are sorest tried
You face your trials side by side.
Now your wooing days are done,
And your loving years begun.


It's been a long time since I've posted to the blog. My appologies. I intend to be more diligent.