Poem: “I” 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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I

  Nobody hates me more than I;
    No enemy have I to-day
  That I so bravely must defy;
    There are no foes along my way,
  However bitter they may be,
  So powerful to injure me
  As I am, nor as quick to spoil
  The beauty of my bit of toil.

  Nobody harms me more than I;
    No one is meaner unto me;
  Of all the foes that pass me by
    I am the worst one that I see.
  I am the dangerous man to fear;
  I am the cause of sorrow here;
  Of all men ‘gainst my hopes inclined
  I am myself the most unkind.

  I do more harmful things to me
    Than all the men who seem to hate;
  I am the fellow that should be
    More dreaded than the works of fate.
  I am the one that I must fight
  With all my will and all my might;
  My foes are better friends to me
  Than I have ever proved to be.

  I am the careless foe and mean;
    I am the selfish rival too;
  My enmity to me is seen
    In almost everything I do.
  More courage it requires to beat
  Myself, than all the foes I meet;
  I am more traitorous to me
  Than other men could ever be.

  In every struggle I have lost
    I am the one that was to blame;
  My weaknesses cannot be glossed
    By glib excuses. I was lame.
  I that would dare for fame or pelf
  Am far less daring with myself.
  I care not who my foes may be,
  I am my own worst enemy.

< < < Faith
The Things That Haven’t Been Done Before > > >

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

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A Heap o’ Livin’

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