Poem: “Guessing Time” by Edgar A. Guest

A Heap o’ Livin’

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American Literature – American Poetry – Edgar A. Guest – Poems by Edgar A. Guest – A Heap o’ Livin’
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Guessing Time

It’s guessing time at our house; every evening
     after tea
  We start guessing what old Santa’s going to
     leave us on our tree.
  Everyone of us holds secrets that the others try
     to steal,
  And that eyes and lips are plainly having trouble
     to conceal.
  And a little lip that quivered just a bit the other
     night
  Was a sad and startling warning that I mustn’t
     guess it right.

  “Guess what you will get for Christmas!” is the
     cry that starts the fun.
  And I answer: “Give the letter with which the
     name’s begun.”
  Oh, the eyes that dance around me and the joyous
     faces there
  Keep me nightly guessing wildly: “Is it something
     I can wear?”
  I implore them all to tell me in a frantic sort
     of way
  And pretend that I am puzzled, just to keep them
     feeling gay.

  Oh, the wise and knowing glances that across the
     table fly
  And the winks exchanged with mother, that they
     think I never spy;
  Oh, the whispered confidences that are poured
     into her ear,
  And the laughter gay that follows when I try
     my best to hear!
  Oh, the shouts of glad derision when I bet that
     it’s a cane,
  And the merry answering chorus: “No, it’s
     not. Just guess again!”

  It’s guessing time at our house, and the fun is
     running fast,
  And I wish somehow this contest of delight
     could always last,
  For the love that’s in their faces and their
     laughter ringing clear
  Is their dad’s most precious present when the
     Christmas time is near.
  And soon as it is over, when the tree is bare
     and plain,
  I shall start in looking forward to the time to
     guess again.

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American Literature – American Poetry – Edgar A. Guest – Poems by Edgar A. Guest – A Heap o’ Livin’

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