Famous Inspirational Poem

This famous poem, "Have You Earned Your Tomorrow", is by Edgar A. Guest who was known as the People's Poet for his simple uplifting style of writing poetry, and first published in the Detroit Free Press around 1916. There are different versions of the poem around and it has been attributed to other authors and with other titles such as "The Day's Results", "The Day's Work", "At Day's End", and "Is Anybody Happier".

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This is a very inspiring poem. I am a health care professional working with elderly nursing home care patients... many are alone with various combinations of impairments in hearing, seeing,...

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Famous Poem

Have You Earned Your Tomorrow

Edgar A. Guest By more Edgar A. Guest

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
     Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
     Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
   Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng?
Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,
   Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast,
     That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;
     Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
     Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
     You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • Teresa Salcedo by Teresa Salcedo
  • 1 year ago

Edgar Guest has a very special ability to touch the heart with the right amount of thought and passion, revealing a perfect blend of emotion and intellect. He is a true talent, indeed, therefore, I will say he writes many classic poems!

I am charmed by his poetry and am grateful to have discovered him through this site. Being a writer, I was missing out. Thank you!

  • Chris by Chris
  • 3 years ago

I love this poem. I've read it in the morning...but now I know how I'm going to handle today. As a teacher, I know how I'm going to handle my students and colleagues. Thank you very much for this poem.

  • Sara Battar by Sara Battar
  • 3 years ago

This is a very inspiring poem. I am a health care professional working with elderly nursing home care patients... many are alone with various combinations of impairments in hearing, seeing, tasting, heart, lungs, kidneys, dementia, etc. What touches their hearts and gives me most satisfaction is bonding over a smile, a touch, sharing a personal connection and uplifting stories.
Poems and messages like these should be deliberately made more mainstream media, opportune time offerings. We all could do more by growing these roots and spreading such positive thoughts, demonstrating these values in our day to day lives with firm convictions and intense will power.

  • Amoikon Grace by Amoikon Grace
  • 3 years ago

I was touched by this poem because in life you always have to do good deeds so that people remember us and help us when we need it. We have to do this because we never know how we're going to end up, and we have to always be kind on this earth and forget the day that has passed. This poem also showed me that we must always help people in difficulty despite all the means at our disposal, because no matter if we are rich or poor, we must always help people.

I love it! It would be cool if we all had a review button that we must press each night before we go sleep. And watch the chances we took or lost during the day to touch another person in a positive way. I've found it doesn't take a lot to change someone's day.

  • Anon Widly by Anon Widly
  • 4 years ago

I worked at a fast food restaurant and there was an elderly man, in his 90s, who called for us to deliver him some food. I stayed on the phone with him for what I would say is around 40 minutes. I was there listening to what he had to say about his past and the world today. We connected, and we laughed. I could tell he was happy that he had someone to talk to, even though it's probably not what I should have been doing on the job, but he ended the call by saying thank you for being patient, there should be more people like you. This was very heartwarming and it definitely brought light into my day. I was glad that I was there to talk to him.

Every good deed you do will come back to you. Cherish what's around you, and spread happiness. You could impact a person's day just by simply saying hi or even just offering a simple smile, a hug maybe. Listen and connect. It makes the world a better place.

  • POOJA JOSHI by POOJA JOSHI
  • 3 years ago

Your story was so beautiful that I had tears in my eyes. There should be more people like you. What you did is so inspiring.

  • Jothi Bosh K. by Jothi Bosh K.
  • 6 years ago

I am not rich nor poor, but my heart is filled with love. I always want to help others in any way I can. I used to sit and listen to the older person because no one was there to hear his words. I used to serve food when someone is begging for money or food. I used to help me relatives or friends who were short of money for their medical assistance. While driving my car/bike, I'd stop and give money to a mother/child to help them buy some food. Every month I'd take some of my earnings to help others. I am very thankful to God for giving me this life, and I pray to God for serving more people in my life.

  • Meryl M. Colquhoun by Meryl M. Colquhoun, Canberra Australia
  • 6 years ago

Does anyone stop and look at what others are doing? They are not all rich as you see at Christmas time with expensive food on the table. Stop and think, not everyone has money. But we can offer a smile, or a thank you, or push the shopping trolley that an elderly person is struggling with. Or if someone is at the checkout and short of a few cents, offer to put it in for them and make their day. Stop, look, and listen. Make their day, and maybe it will make your day too.

I was very touched by this poem because it reflects how I feel. I'm 97 and have witnessed so much. I believe we can brighten the day, no matter what the circumstances are. My greatest treasure is the file of letters I have received from all over the world (thanks to Family Friends Poems) that let me know that people have been amused, comforted, or inspired by what I wrote.

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