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2.4 Have you Earned your Tomorrow



2.4 Have you Earned your Tomorrow


About the poem:

This is an inspirational poem.The poem focuses on the importance of human relations.This poem is mostly in the form of questions.The title of the poem is a rhetorical question.
         In this poem ,the speaker is asking the readers whether they have done anything to improve the life of another human beings or not.


About the poet:

Edgar Guest was born in England and brought to the United States when he was 10 years old.He began his writing career at the age of fourteen.
        Edgar Guest is known as `poeple's poet' for his simple style and optimistic tone of writing.Guest is an American writer of newspaper and magazines.


Special features of the poem:

       Each stanza contains questions for the readers.This is a four stanza poem that is separated into sets of four lines.

The lines follow the pattern of aabb ccaa ddee ffaa. The repetition of the -ay” sound appears in the first, second and fourth stanzas. 


Theme: 

     *  Importance of healthy relations.
     *  Result of our behaviour in our life.
     *  Improvement of interpersonal                           relationships.
     *  If we need others to treat well then we must treat others well first.


Paraphrase:

        The poem begins with the speaker asking a reader whether they have done anything to improve the day of another human being. He continues on to ask if the reader greeted their friends cheerfully or  did you meet your friend with love?Did you give favour today? Or you meet your friends just as a formality ? Will the person feel happy?  It is the end of the day and time is running out to guarantee one’s actions are approved  by God.

        The second stanza inquires into friendly greetings and kind actions.In the second stanza of the poem the speaker inquires  ,"Did you give a cheerful greeting to your friends?" or " Did you meet your friends rudely ? " Or you  meet them just as a formality? And then you disapper in the crowd....He hopes that everyone should bring hope and courage to needy people. The poem concludes with the speaker reminding the reader that it is up to God whether or not “you” have a tomorrow. Therefore, one should consider their actions carefully if they want to see the next day. 

        The third stanza  tells to help others and to give hope. In the he third stanza poet asks about the readers action. The poet says that everyone to whom you crossed them they will need different kinds of help. He asks "Did you help or inspire someone?". Was there anyone whose heart rejoiced due to your actions and looked forward courageously?

        In the last stanza poet asks the readers how did you spend your day?  If you wasted your day without helping others , without creating pleasure in their heart, without increasing hopes into them, without creating smile on their face, you wouldn't have the rights to earn your tomorrow. The last two lines tells the readers if you are unsure how dud you spend your day? Then just close your eyes in slumber and think about what God would have to say you. If you spent the day well , definitely tomorrow is assured, and if you don't  do well, tomorrow might not come.


Moral of the poem:

*  Everyone should do good to others.
*  As you sow, so shall you reap.
*  Things will happen to you good or bad, according to how you behave.
*  What we give to others it will come back to you.
*  you shall harvest what you plant.
*  You will be rewarded or punished according to the good or bad deeds that you do. 

My opinion about the poem:

      This poem helps me to remember that others too  have their own value, and will remember me for good or ill, depending, largely, on how I treat them. I don't have control over everything in the world, but I do have control over me, and how I treat others. And I can choose to recognize the value of others





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