A Welcome Guest

If you want to sound smart in a conversation, you'll probably bring up literature (bonus points if the author died over 100 years ago) or social issues. These two concepts, mystical in definition of exactly why they prompt such respect and awe of your conversation partner, might be too much if they are combined. I mean, you don't want to sound too smart, right? Wrong. Let's look down our noses at everyone who doesn't know the exact impact that Gloria Anzaldúa had on the Chicana movement of the 1970's.

In all seriousness, many poets wrote about things that were relevant to their lives and the lives of people around them, and the lessons that they wrote about often still are relevant today. One poet whose words were influential both when written and now is Edgar Guest.

Taken from Wikipedia

Often known as "The People's Poet" for his upbeat and inspirational poems, Guest's life was not without difficulty. He moved at the age of 10 to the United States from England, and worked odd jobs both before his father died when Guest was 17 and dropped out of school for a full-time job after. Despite the obstacles that he faced, he began writing poems and had been published by the time he was 18. 

He also wrote throughout WWI, and many of his poems dealt with patriotic themes, so his status as both an American household staple and proponent of the war effort were confirmed through his syndication throughout the US.

A cute little quote of his I have hanging in my dorm room!!

Why do we care? (Or I guess why do I care... I can't make you like poetry. Or care about it) Guest's poems represented a light, inspirational tone that was well-appreciated and desired throughout that time - so much so that he soon wrote regular columns and appeared on a regular radio show to broadcast his poems. His portfolio accumulated an estimated 11,000 distinct poems in the same vein - he had found his nice and decided to run with it.

One of my favorite poems of his is one that is both inspirational and holds sentimental value for myself. It is my grandfather's favorite poem and was quoted in my mother's salutatorian commencement speech for her high school - and now a portion of it hangs on my dorm room's eggshell-white walls.

Results and Roses

The man who wants a garden fair, 
Or small or very big, 
With flowers growing here and there, 
Must bend his back and dig. 

The things are mighty few on earth 
That wishes can attain. 
Whate'er we want of any worth 
We've got to work to gain.

 It matters not what goal you seek 
Its secret here reposes: 
You've got to dig from week to week 
To get Results or Roses.

I think that this poem speaks to such a universal theme in an eloquent way - which makes it both accessible and a testament to his ability to write to any and all people. The metaphor of growing roses in a garden, no matter how big or small the garden, as a comparison to effort in any task is universal to all ages, and although it is not a complex or intimidating metaphor, its presence represents a deeper layer of thought. 

The rhyme scheme, which, in our world of competition for most elite and obscure, is a refreshing throwback to the rhymes of our childhood - a simpler time, one might think. However, Guest's ability to accurately follow a rhyme scheme without sacrificing his message is indicative of his acuity of vocabulary and a clear sense of the goal of the poem.

So I guess, what I hope you'll take away is that a lot of poets wrote for everyone. A lot of poets wrote for themselves (Emily Dickinson's poems were all hidden away and published posthumously). I like poems because they're little tidbits of inspiration or creativity. They require less dedication than reading a book, and you get to see a lot of unique linguistic and stylistic choices. If you're like me and love to read but have a VERY difficult time blocking out time to read a deep novel, go for poems! So, read on!