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Excerpt ​

Excerpt from A Heap o' Livin', by Edgar A. Guest

I am selfish in my wishin' every sort o' joy.. 20
I believe in the world........................ 168
I'd like to be a boy again.................... 16
I'd like to be the sort of friend............. 32
I'd like to be the sort of man................ 112
I'd like to leave but daffodills.............. 75
I do not say new friends are not considerate.. 34
I do not think all failure's undeserved....... 77
If I had hatred in my heart................... 173
If never a sorrow came to us.................. 85
I might not ever scale the mountain heights... 143
I'm not the man to say that failure's sweet... 43
I'm the bumps and bruises doctor.............. 107
I'm up against it day by day.................. 166
I never knew, until they went................. 49
It's an easy world to live in if you choose... 158
It's coming time for planting................. 44
It's guessing time at our house............... 148
It's September, and the orchards are afire.... 60
It's the dull road that leads to the gay road. 67
It's tough when you are homesick.............. 117
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house to make
it home..................................... 28
I've sipped a rich man's sparkling wine....... 74
I've told about the times that Ma can't find
her pocketbook.............................. 94

Lady in the show case carriage................ 122
Less hate and greed........................... 58
Let others sing their songs of war............ 82
Life is a challenge to the bold............... 145
Life is a gift to be used every day........... 63
Little Master Mischievous, that's the name.... 38

Ma has a dandy little book.................... 100
Ma says no, it's too much care................ 116
Men are of two kind, and he................... 180
Most every night when they're in bed.......... 64
Most folks, as I've noticed, in pleasure an'
strife...................................... 176
My father often used to say................... 185
My Pa he eats his breakfast................... 50

Explanation ​

Edgar A. Guest (1881–1959) was a prolific American poet often called the "People’s Poet" for his accessible, heartfelt verse that celebrated everyday life, family, resilience, and optimism. His collection A Heap o’ Livin’ (1916) embodies his signature style—simple language, sentimental themes, and a focus on the small joys and struggles of ordinary people. The excerpt you’ve provided is not a single poem but a table of contents (or list of poem titles with page numbers) from the collection. However, the titles themselves are rich with thematic and stylistic clues that reveal Guest’s philosophical and emotional preoccupations.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the excerpt, analyzing its themes, literary devices, context, and significance—primarily through the lens of the titles and their implied content.

1. Context of A Heap o’ Livin’ ​

  • Published in 1916, during World War I and the early 20th-century industrial boom, Guest’s work offered comfort and moral clarity in a time of upheaval.
  • His poetry was widely syndicated in newspapers, making him a household name—akin to a poetic version of Norman Rockwell’s paintings.
  • The collection’s title, A Heap o’ Livin’, suggests that life is cumulative: joy, sorrow, work, and love all pile up to create meaning.

2. Major Themes in the Excerpt (Via Poem Titles) ​

The titles alone reveal Guest’s core concerns:

A. Nostalgia & Childhood ​

  • "I'd like to be a boy again" (p. 16)
    • Longing for innocence, simplicity, and the freedom of youth.
    • Reflects a Romantic idealization of childhood (similar to Wordsworth’s "Intimations of Immortality").
  • "Little Master Mischievous, that's the name" (p. 38)
    • Celebrates playfulness and familial bonds, a recurring theme in Guest’s work.

B. Friendship & Human Connection ​

  • "I'd like to be the sort of friend" (p. 32) / "I'd like to be the sort of man" (p. 112)
    • Aspirational poems about moral character—Guest often wrote about being a better person.
    • The repetition of "I'd like to be" suggests self-reflection and striving.
  • "It takes a heap o' livin' in a house to make it home" (p. 28)
    • Home as a sacred space built through shared experiences (not just a physical structure).
    • Contrasts with "It's tough when you are homesick" (p. 117), highlighting belonging vs. alienation.

C. Resilience & Struggle ​

  • "I'm up against it day by day" (p. 166) / "I'm the bumps and bruises doctor" (p. 107)
    • Perseverance in hardship—Guest’s poems often frame life as a series of challenges to overcome.
    • The "doctor" metaphor suggests healing through endurance.
  • "I might not ever scale the mountain heights if never a sorrow came to us" (p. 143)
    • Adversity as necessary for growth (echoes Nietzsche’s "What does not kill me makes me stronger").
    • The mountain metaphor implies life as a climb, with sorrow as a catalyst.

D. Simplicity & Contentment ​

  • "I'd like to leave but daffodills" (p. 75)
    • Rejects materialism; legacy should be beauty and kindness (not wealth).
    • The daffodil symbolizes joy and renewal (similar to Wordsworth’s "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud").
  • "I've sipped a rich man's sparkling wine" (p. 74)
    • Likely contrasts wealth with true happiness, suggesting simple pleasures are superior.

E. Family & Domestic Life ​

  • "Ma has a dandy little book" (p. 100) / "My Pa he eats his breakfast" (p. 50)
    • Everyday moments as sacred—Guest elevates mundane family rituals to poetic subjects.
    • "Ma says no, it's too much care" (p. 116) hints at parental sacrifices and wisdom.
  • "I never knew, until they went" (p. 49)
    • Loss and regret—implies the value of loved ones is realized in absence.

F. Social & Moral Commentary ​

  • "Less hate and greed" (p. 58) / "Let others sing their songs of war" (p. 82)
    • Anti-war and anti-materialism—Guest often criticized societal ills while promoting kindness.
    • Written during WWI, these titles reflect pacifist leanings.
  • "Men are of two kinds, and he" (p. 180)
    • Likely a moral dichotomy (good vs. bad, generous vs. selfish).

G. Nature & Cyclical Time ​

  • "It's September, and the orchards are afire" (p. 60)
    • Seasonal imagery as a metaphor for life’s beauty and transience.
  • "It's coming time for planting" (p. 44)
    • Hope and renewal—farming metaphors for life’s cycles.

3. Literary Devices in the Titles ​

Even in the titles alone, Guest employs key techniques:

A. Repetition & Parallelism ​

  • "I'd like to be..." (pp. 16, 32, 112)
    • Anaphora (repetition at the start) creates rhythm and emphasis on aspiration.
  • "I do not..." (pp. 34, 77)
    • Negation to contrast expectations vs. reality.

B. Metaphor & Symbolism ​

  • "It's the dull road that leads to the gay road" (p. 67)
    • Life as a journey—hardship (dull road) precedes joy (gay road).
  • "I'm the bumps and bruises doctor" (p. 107)
    • Extended metaphor for emotional healing.

C. Contrast & Juxtaposition ​

  • "I do not say new friends are not considerate" (p. 34) vs. "I never knew, until they went" (p. 49)
    • Old vs. new relationships—suggests depth comes with time.
  • "Life is a challenge to the bold" (p. 145) vs. "It's an easy world to live in if you choose" (p. 158)
    • Paradox: Life is both difficult and simple, depending on perspective.

D. Colloquial Diction & Dialect ​

  • "A Heap o’ Livin’" (title), "Ma", "Pa", "dandy"
    • Folksy, conversational tone—makes poetry accessible to working-class readers.
    • Dialect ("o’" for "of") adds authenticity and warmth.

E. Imagery (Even in Titles!) ​

  • "the orchards are afire" (p. 60)
    • Vivid sensory image—autumn leaves as flames.
  • "sparkling wine" (p. 74)
    • Luxury contrasted with simpler joys.

4. Significance of the Excerpt ​

A. Democratization of Poetry ​

  • Guest’s plain language made poetry relatable to everyday people, not just elites.
  • His work was published in newspapers, reaching millions—unlike modernist poets (e.g., T.S. Eliot) who wrote for a niche audience.

B. Moral & Emotional Comfort ​

  • During WWI and the Great Depression, his poems offered hope and resilience.
  • Titles like "Life is a gift to be used every day" (p. 63) reinforce gratitude and purpose.

C. Critique of Modernity ​

  • While not overtly political, poems like "Less hate and greed" (p. 58) challenge materialism and war.
  • His focus on home, family, and simplicity was a counter to industrialization’s alienation.

D. Legacy & Influence ​

  • Guest’s style influenced later sentimental poets (e.g., Robert Service, Rod McKuen).
  • His optimism and moral clarity contrast with the irony and despair of modernist poetry.

5. Key Takeaways from the Excerpt ​

  1. Life is a mix of joy and struggle—Guest doesn’t deny hardship but frames it as necessary for growth.
  2. Small moments matter—family, friendship, and nature are sources of meaning.
  3. Simplicity > Materialism—true wealth is in relationships and character.
  4. Resilience is heroic—the "bumps and bruises doctor" (p. 107) suggests endurance is noble.
  5. Nostalgia is bittersweet—longing for the past ("I'd like to be a boy again") but appreciating the present.

Final Thought: Why These Titles Resonate ​

Guest’s poetry endures because it speaks to universal experiences—loss, love, hardship, and hope. The titles alone act as miniature philosophies, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives. While his style may seem sentimental or simplistic to some, his authenticity and warmth make his work timelessly comforting.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific poem from the list?