A Rotary Poet
“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.” (Plato)
Eddie was born in Birmingham, England in 1881. He moved with his family to the United States as a child of ten, settling in Detroit, Michigan. Becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1902, he was a restless youth, with an inner ambition and driving nature.
At the age of thirteen, he began working for the Detroit Free Press as a copy boy. As his talents became evident, he became a cub reporter for the newspaper. By the time he should have been graduating from high school, he was earning a reputation for tenacity in what was a very competitive newspaper town.
A 17 year-old high school dropout, he began to write poetry. His first poem was published in December by the Free Press in 1898. His continuing contributions of verse and metered observations eventually led to a weekly column and then a daily column he called “Breakfast Table Chat.”
His verses went into syndication, eventually carried by over 300 newspapers around the country. His increasing popularity led to one of radio’s earliest and longest running shows.
His son “Bud” joined the Free Press in 1934 after he graduated from the University of Michigan, and also had a radio show he called “The Sunny Side of the Street.”
Over the 60 years that Eddie was with the Detroit Free Press, thousands of Detroiters were born and grew up before they knew a day without Edgar A. Guest’s poetry or human touch.
A proud member of the Detroit Rotary Club, Edgar A. Guest became known as the People’s Poet. He was made Poet Laureate of Michigan, the only poet to have been awarded that title.
In his poem “He Who Serves” he demonstrates his commitment to service and in it you can sense his devotion to the Four-Way Test.
He Who Serves
He has not served who gathers gold,
Nor has he served, whose life is told
In selfish battles he has won,
Or deeds of skill that he has done;
But he has served who now and then
Has helped along his fellow men.
The world needs many men today;
Red-blooded men along life's way,
With cheerful smiles and helping hands,
And with the faith that understands
The beauty of the simple deed
Which serves another's hour of need.
Strong men to stand beside the weak,
Kind men to hear what others speak;
True men to keep our country's laws
And guard its honor and its cause;
Men who will bravely play life's game
Nor ask rewards of gold and fame.
Teach me to do the best I can
To help and cheer our fellow man;
Teach me to lose my selfish need
And glory in the larger deed
Which smoothes the road, and lights the day
For all who chance to come my way.
~ Edgar Albert Guest
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