"At Christmas," by Edgar Albert Guest

As as child I remember whenever I was required to visit the doctor's office (Dr. King's office, to be precise), I'd have the opportunity to peruse several pictures that included some pretty fascinating poetry.  My mother over the years has given me books of some of that poetry, and I have to admit reading them brings back some fond feelings of my childhood in Millington, TN.  One of the poets that I remember discovering in that quaint little office was a man named Edgar Albert Guest. 

I remember seeing a couple of his poems on the walls of that office, and I've since come to appreciate a number of his works.  The one below is a personal favorite about Christmas.  In it Guest elaborates on how a person responds to the "Christmas spirit" and how it can cause a change in a person's life.  The poem puts into my mind the image of a reformed Scrooge, fresh off his encounters with the ghost of Christmas, now engaging faithfully to live a less self-focused life. 

I know that times have changed, and I realize that people do not always have "Christmas cheer" at this time of year.  Nonetheless, my prayer for all of us is that we become the people God intended us to be, especially now as we celebrate the Advent of our Lord Jesus.  I hope this poem blesses you!

Thanks for reading!

At Christmas by Edgar Albert Guest

A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year; 
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season is here; 
Then he’s thinking more of others than he’s thought the months before, 
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for. 
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time; 
When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime. 

When it’s Christmas man is bigger and is better in his part; 
He is keener for the service that is prompted by the heart. 
All the petty thoughts and narrow seem to vanish for awhile 
And the true reward he’s seeking is the glory of a smile. 
Then for others he is toiling and somehow it seems to me 
That at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be. 

If I had to paint a picture of a man I think I’d wait 
Till he’d fought his selfish battles and had put aside his hate. 
I’d not catch him at his labors when his thoughts are all of pelf, 
On the long days and the dreary when he’s striving for himself. 
I’d not take him when he’s sneering, when he’s scornful or depressed, 
But I’d look for him at Christmas when he’s shining at his best. 

Man is ever in a struggle and he’s oft misunderstood; 
There are days the worst that’s in him is the master of the good, 
But at Christmas kindness rules him and he puts himself aside 
And his petty hates are vanquished and his heart is opened wide. 
Oh, I don’t know how to say it, but somehow it seems to me 
That at Christmas man is almost what God sent him here to be.

Memorial Day Poem by Edgar Guest

Last year I posted this same poem, and for Memorial Day this year it seemed relevant yet again.  I love the poetry of Edgar Guest, and this poem in honor of Memorial Day seems rather appropriate today. Let me know what you think!

The finest tribute we can pay
Unto our hero dead to-day,
Is not a rose wreath, white and red,
In memory of the blood they shed;
It is to stand beside each mound,
Each couch of consecrated ground,
And pledge ourselves as warriors true
Unto the work they died to do.

Into God's valleys where they lie
At rest, beneath the open sky,
Triumphant now o'er every foe,
As living tributes let us go.
No wreath of rose or immortelles
Or spoken word or tolling bells
Will do to-day, unless we give
Our pledge that liberty shall live.

Our hearts must be the roses red
We place above our hero dead;
To-day beside their graves we must
Renew allegiance to their trust;
Must bare our heads and humbly say
We hold the Flag as dear as they,
And stand, as once they stood, to die
To keep the Stars and Stripes on high.

The finest tribute we can pay
Unto our hero dead to-day
Is not of speech or roses red,
But living, throbbing hearts instead,
That shall renew the pledge they sealed
With death upon the battlefield:
That freedom's flag shall bear no stain
And free men wear no tyrant's chain.

Thanks for reading! And thanks to all military who served or currently serve to protect our freedoms! May God bless you and your families.