Friday, February 17, 2012

Edgar A. Guest

Fisherman's Cottage
by Paul Landry from allposters.

The Little Home
Edgar A. Guest

The little house is not too small
To shelter friends who come to call.
Though low the roof and small its space
It holds the Lord's abounding grace,
And every simple room may be
Endowed with happy memory.

The little house, severly plain,
A wealth of beauty may contain.
Within it those who dwell may find
High faith which makes for peace of mind,
And that sweet understanding which
Can make the poorest cottage rich.

The little house can hold all things
From which the soul's contentment springs.
'Tis not too small for love to grow,
For all the joys that mortals know,
For mirth and song and that delight
Which make the humblest dwelling bright.




Edgar Albert Guest was born in 1881 in Birmingham, England, and came to America as a news reporter. His poems earned him the title of "The People's Poet."  He died in Chicago Illinois in 1959.  During wars and depression, he wrote some of his best poems to encourage and uplift the hearts of Americans.



No Better Land Than This
Edgar Guest 

If I knew a better country in this glorious world today
Where a man's work hours are shorter and he's drawing bigger pay,
If the Briton or the Frenchman had an easier life than mine,
I'd pack my goods this minute and I'd sail across the brine.
But I notice when an alien wants a land of hope and cheer,
And a future for his children, he comes out and settles here.

Here's the glorious land of Freedom! Here's the milk and honey goal
For the peasant out of Russia, for the long-subjected Pole.
It is here the sons of Italy and men of Austria turn
For the comfort of their bodies and the wages they can earn.
And with all that men complain of, and with all that goes amiss,
There's no happier, better nation on the world's broad face than this.

So I'm thinking when I listen to the wails of discontent,
And some foreign disbeliever spreads his evil sentiment,
That the breed of hate and envy that is sowing sin and shame
In this glorious land of Freedom should go back from whence it came.
And I hold it is the duty, rich or poor, of every man
Who enjoys this country's bounty to be all American.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Lydia,

I am a great admirer of the 'little house';

to this effect;

http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/small-house-society/

As folk who love the home and wish not to mock it, we can take these ideas and truly flourish, giving them beauty, artfulness, simplicity and taking all into subjection for Christ.