Poem: “On Going Home For Christmas” 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’
< < < Ma And The Auto
At Sugar Camp > > >

On Going Home For Christmas

He little knew the sorrow that was in his vacant
      chair;
  He never guessed they’d miss him, or he’d
      surely have been there;
  He couldn’t see his mother or the lump that
      filled her throat,
  Or the tears that started falling as she read
      his hasty note;
  And he couldn’t see his father, sitting sorrowful
      and dumb,
  Or he never would have written that he thought
      he couldn’t come.

  He little knew the gladness that his presence
      would have made,
  And the joy it would have given, or he never
      would have stayed.
  He didn’t know how hungry had the little
      mother grown
  Once again to see her baby and to claim him
      for her own.
  He didn’t guess the meaning of his visit
      Christmas Day
  Or he never would have written that he
      couldn’t get away.

  He couldn’t see the fading of the cheeks that
      once were pink,
  And the silver in the tresses; and he didn’t
      stop to think
  How the years are passing swiftly, and next
      Christmas it might be
  There would be no home to visit and no mother
      dear to see.
  He didn’t think about it—I’ll not say he didn’t
      care.
  He was heedless and forgetful or he’d surely
      have been there.

  Are you going home for Christmas? Have you
      written you’ll be there?
  Going home to kiss the mother and to show
      her that you care?
  Going home to greet the father in a way to
      make him glad?
  If you’re not I hope there’ll never come a time
      you’ll wish you had.
  Just sit down and write a letter—it will make
      their heart strings hum
  With a tune of perfect gladness—if you’ll tell
      them that you’ll come.

< < < Ma And The Auto
At Sugar Camp > > >

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

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