Edgar Albert Guest Poems

IF no one ever went ahead,
If we had seen no friend depart
And mourned him for a while as dead,
How great would be our fear to start.
...

'Twas not so many years ago,
Say, twenty-two or three,
When zero weather or below
Held many a thrill for me.
...

You ought to be fine for the sake of the folks
Who think you are fine.
If others have faith in you doubly you're bound
To stick to the line.
...

I am selfish in my wishin' every sort o' joy for you;
I am selfish when I tell you that I'm wishin' skies o' blue
Bending o'er you every minute, and a pocketful of gold,
...

If never a sorrow came to us,
and never a care we knew;
If every hope were realized,
and every dream came true;
...

Don't mind being broke at all,
When I can say that what I had
Was spent for toys for kiddies small
...

To serve my country day by day
At any humble post I may;
To honor and respect her flag,
...

The world is full of gladness,
There are joys of many kinds,
There's a cure for every sadness,
That each troubled mortal finds.
...

God of battles, be with us now:
Guard our sons from the lead of shame,
Watch our sons when the cannons flame,
Let them not to a tyrant bow.
...

Men talk too much of gold and fame,
And not enough about a name;
And yet a good name's better far
...