Poem: “The Perfect Dinner Table” 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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The Perfect Dinner Table

A table cloth that’s slightly soiled
  Where greasy little hands have toiled;
  The napkins kept in silver rings,
  And only ordinary things
  From which to eat, a simple fare,
  And just the wife and kiddies there,
  And while I serve, the clatter glad
  Of little girl and little lad
  Who have so very much to say
  About the happenings of the day.

  Four big round eyes that dance with glee,
  Forever flashing joys at me,
  Two little tongues that race and run
  To tell of troubles and of fun;
  The mother with a patient smile
  Who knows that she must wait awhile
  Before she’ll get a chance to say
  What she’s discovered through the day.
  She steps aside for girl and lad
  Who have so much to tell their dad.

  Our manners may not be the best;
  Perhaps our elbows often rest
  Upon the table, and at times
  That very worst of dinner crimes,
  That very shameful act and rude
  Of speaking ere you’ve downed your food,
  Too frequently, I fear, is done,
  So fast the little voices run.
  Yet why should table manners stay
  Those tongues that have so much to say?

  At many a table I have been
  Where wealth and luxury were seen,
  And I have dined in halls of pride
  Where all the guests were dignified;
  But when it comes to pleasure rare
  The perfect dinner table’s where
  No stranger’s face is ever known:
  The dinner hour we spend alone,
  When little girl and little lad
  Run riot telling things to dad.

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

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A Heap o’ Livin’

The Perfect Dinner Table

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