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Edgar Guest (1881-1959) was a prolific poet who wrote many encouraging messages about everyday life. This poem captures the essence of a man who loves his family so much to sacrifice for them day in and day out.
The poem emphasizes the enduring legacy of kindness and integrity, even in the face of poverty. Compared to Guest's other works, this poem shares his themes of the value of humility and human connection.
The poem employs a simple and conversational tone, using relatable language to express the speaker's love and acceptance of their children despite their imperfections. It reflects the prevailing sentimentality and emphasis on family values during the early 20th century.
Guest was known for his sentimental and accessible poetry that often celebrated family, everyday life, and positive values. 'Thanksgiving' embodies these characteristics by focusing on family gatherings, gratitude, and the joy of shared moments.
For 30 years Guest published a new poem every single day in the Detroit Free Press. More than 11,000 poems! His poems were extremely popular at the time. He was known as The People's Poet of his age for his easy to read poems about family, work, children and God which upheld the values of the typical American in the first half of the 20th century.
The speaker extols the importance of forming a tight-knit family unit, emphasizing the idea that the family home is the ultimate source of happiness and fulfillment. The poem's language and tone are simple and straightforward, utilizing accessible language to convey its message.
It’s the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth, That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth; It’s the old home roof that shelters all the charm that life can give;
