Edgar Albert Guest

Does any one know the name of this Edgar A Guest poem:
He who has smoothed another's way
And left a long remembered day
With one whose heart was sick with pain
Need never say he's lived in vain.
He who has done one kindly deed
And served another's hour of need
Has truly justified his birth
And made this world a richer earth.

I have Collected Verse of Edgar A. Guest and have always loved his poems. I ran across one in an old newspaper during or after the war entitled The VIctory Loan but it isn't in my book. I should have copied it down, but didn't. Does anyone have it?

I have a copy of a poem, attributed to Edgar Guest, entitled The Lighthouse Keeper Wonders. I cannot locate this poem under his name in these listings. Can anyone offer an explanation?

The poem is about the speculations of an ex-lighthouse keeper who was put ashore (retired) by the mechanical automation of his lighthouse.

I have the original writing of I follow the famous father it's on a brown paper bag it is sign by Edgar Albert Guest himself. It was in a frame with a document and it was behind the document

Edgar Guest was not just a poet but a teacher of what we would call now long lost morals. Although I am much to young to have seen his poetry in print I can say without a doubt he shaped my life and is a large part of who I am today. Brilliant poet!

I have and have read most of Mr. Guest's poems. I'm certain a lot would consider his work hackneyed and perhaps by to-days standard of poetry, some might agree. Edgar lived in a different time, a more simple, less complex and naive time in history. I read his work, with my head in my mother's era (1911) . Mr. Guest wrote with his heart and his soul and all of it made perfect sense. He was Detroit's poet laureate!

I just love the man but wish I could find more of his biography. I would like to know about his religious beliefs.

My favorite poem by Guest is not on here. That's such a shame. It's called Teamwork. Google it (:

This was so appropriate for today's drivers. It was on the back of a 1949 Hudson car manual:

COURTESY / Edgar A. Guest © 1947

Not the “right of way” when driving, but the simple way of right and never once forgetting to be courteous and polite.
A little bit of patience as behind the wheel you sit and you’ll never lose a fender and a child you’ll never hit.

Oh, the worst of phrases ringing all through motordom today is that selfish bit of wording that is known as “right of way.”
It has filled the graves of many who have sped some road along, since death never asks the question, is the driver right or wrong.

Just a little thought for others, just remembering to be kind, just the willingness in traffic to slow down and stay behind.
Just the show of gracious manners which all gentle folks display, and all the accidents that happen will be fewer day by day.

Just control that flash of temper when another sounds his horn. In the car may be a mother soon to have her baby born.
Be considerate in your driving and be courteous and be kind, and you’ll reach your dwelling safely and you’ll keep your peace of mind.

I grew up listening to WJR radio out of Detroit; listening to Edgar A. Guest's son, Bud Guest was part of everyday life. I remember one of his dad's poems, 'Open-face Letters' as the earliest one I can recall. This man's poetry and his son's voice are some of the homey things from The Good Old Days. They influenced me to begin writing poetry, too. Although I ended up published with novels, I still write the occasional poem, partly due to the Guests.