Happy New Year
Edgar Guest is not a well respected name in literary circles. He is, however, one of my guilty pleasures of popular poetry. Somehow, in his unpolished way, he manages to capture something of both life and truth in his work.
Here is Guest’s poem, “A New Year’s Plea”. Somehow, it seems appropriate this year. Give Mr. Guest a little mercy–this obviously is the product of a much more male-dominant age: Get the kernel of meaning, and ignore his political incorrectness. I have no idea if there are copyright issues on this–it appears that all of his work has passed to public domain. May God richly bless you in the upcoming year.
A New Year’s Plea
By Edgar Guest
Lord, let me stand in the thick of the fight,
Let me bear what I must without whining;
Grant me the wisdom to do what is right,
Though a thousand false beacons are shining.
Let me be true as the steel of a blade,
Make me bigger than skillful or clever;
Teach me to cling to my best, unafraid,
And harken to false gospels, never.
Let me be brave when the burden is great,
Faithful when wounded by sorrow;
Teach me, when troubled, with patience to wait
The better and brighter to-morrow.
Spare me from hatred and envy and shame,
Open my eyes to life’s beauty;
Let not the glitter of fortune or fame
Blind me to what is my duty.
Let me be true to myself to the end,
Let me stand to my task without whining;
Let me be right as a man, as a friend,
Though a thousand false beacons are shining.
Tomorrow, a personal story about Edgar Guest’s work.