Poem: “Understanding” 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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Understanding

  When I was young and frivolous and never
    stopped to think,
  When I was always doing wrong, or just upon
    the brink;
  When I was just a lad of seven and eight and
    nine and ten,
  It seemed to me that every day I got in trouble
    then,
  And strangers used to shake their heads and say
    I was no good,
  But father always stuck to me—it seems he
    understood.

  I used to have to go to him ‘most every night
    and say
  The dreadful things that I had done to worry
    folks that day.
  I know I didn’t mean to be a turmoil round the
    place,
  And with the womenfolks about forever in disgrace;
  To do the way they said I should, I tried the
    best I could,
  But though they scolded me a lot—my father
    understood.

  He never seemed to think it queer that I should
    risk my bones,
  Or fight with other boys at times, or pelt a cat
    with stones;
  An’ when I’d break a window pane, it used to
    make him sad,
  But though the neighbors said I was, he never
    thought me bad;
  He never whipped me, as they used to say to me
    he should;
  That boys can’t always do what’s right—it
    seemed he understood.

  Now there’s that little chap of mine, just full of
    life and fun,
  Comes up to me with solemn face to tell the
    bad he’s done.
  It’s natural for any boy to be a roguish elf,
  He hasn’t time to stop and think and figure for
    himself,
  And though the womenfolks insist that I should
    take a hand,
  They’ve never been a boy themselves, and they
    don’t understand.

  Some day I’ve got to go up there, and make a
    sad report
  And tell the Father of us all where I have fallen
    short;
  And there will be a lot of wrong I never meant
    to do,
  A lot of smudges on my sheet that He will have
    to view.
  And little chance for heavenly bliss, up there,
    will I command,
  Unless the Father smiles and says: “My boy,
    I understand.”

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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’

Understanding

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