Poem.2.4 Have you earned your tomorrow

                              Have you earned your tomorrow

About poet:-

Edgar Guest

        Edgar Albert guest was a British born American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th century and became known as the people's poet. The language used by him was so simple to understand. Peoples easily understood the meaning of the poem. He has began his writing career in 1895 at the age of fourteen. His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view  of everyday life.

About poem:-

        It was first published in The Detriot free press around 1916.In this poem the speaker is asking the readers if they have done anything to improve the life of another human being or not . The poem is address to the reader. Here poet use personal pronoun 'you' to refer the reader and also use 'him' to refer the stranger or known person to whom the reader meet.It is a 4 stanza poem having four lines each.First two and last two lines are rhymed with each other of each stanza. Each stanza contains at least 2 , sometimes 3 questions which probe at once treatment of others.

Paraphrase of poem

First Stanza:-

        In the first stanza poet ask three questions to The reader. He asks reader if anyone remember you when you pass him / her way due to your deeds. Is there anyone who can remember you  to whom you spoke today ?. At the end of working day, is there anyone who can utter or speak kind word to you?. First two questions are the emphasis on unprompted kindness of you. And the last question is about the result of your action that someone calls you.

Second stanza:-

    In the second stanza poet asks if the reader greeted his friends cheerfully or you behaved rudely with them just saying a quick "Hello' and finally you disappeared into the crowd . Did you act selfish and uncaring with them?. He also asks if there was anyone who was thankful you for your help.

Third stanza:-

        In the third stanza poet ask about the readers action poet says that everyone to whom you crossed them they will need different kinds of help. He ask if he had helped anyone fellow during the daytime. Was there anyone whose heart rejoiced due to your action and looked forward courageously?. If you did all these things, it would be sufficient to have " Earned your tomorrow".

Fourth Stanza:-

        In the last stanza poet ask the reader how you spent your day. If you wasted your day without helping others , without creating pleasure in their heart, without increasing hopes into them, without creating smile on their face, you wouldn't have the rights to earn your tomorrow. On the other hand if it was well spent , there will be trial of kindness marking once path through the day. The last two lines tells the reader if you are unsure how is your day was spent, just close your eyes in slumber and think about what God would have to say you. If you spent the day well , definitely tomorrow is assured, and if you don't spent well, tomorrow might not come.

Message to the reader :-

        Here the poet Edgar guest delivers a message through this poem, the message is that if you wasted your day without doing good things for others, without creating smiles on others face, you would not earn your tomorrow. If you spent well your day, definitely tomorrow is assured for you.