2.4 Have you earned your tomorrow?

 

Have you earned your tomorrow?

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?

Summary of the poem

The poem ‘Have you earned your tomorrow?’ begins with two direct questions. The poet asks the readers if they have made someone’s day better and had nice conversation with other people so that they can remember them. The poet hints that time is running fast.  He asks if their good conduct with someone has made the other person say kind things about them, at the end of the day.

In the II stanza the poet further asks the readers if a friend who came face to face was greeted cheerfully or impolitely without bothering to show any concern. He wishes to know if the readers were selfish as they rushed through the day. This behavior is disapproved by the poet. He asks to recall whether the readers comforted someone & if the person was grateful to them for that gesture.

In the III stanza, the poet asks the readers if they were kind, at least to one single person whom they met that day. At least one person was given joy, made happy because of their actions and deeds. He wishes to know, whether any hopeless man was encouraged to lead a better future.

In the last stanza, the poet wishes to know how the entire day was spent. If the day was wasted or lost and spent unhappily without improving the lives of others. He wishes the readers to reflect upon their negative actions. If there was kindness shown to others, definitely it will urge these people to repeat the action to others. This will begin in creating a kindness chain, a kindness cycle throughout the world.

In the end, the poet asks the readers to recall by closing their eyes while sleeping and thinking about God’s reaction to their actions for the day. If the day was spent in doing kind deeds to others, God’s response will be a positive one. They can be assured of a better tomorrow. The good that is done today, definitely earns us our tomorrow. The good work we do today, assures us hopeful future.

Figures of speech –

1] Alliteration – Consonant sound repeated in successive words for musical effect.      

– This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through

– Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

– Did you waste the day or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?

– And then vanish in the throng.

            

2] Synecdoche – (A part of something that stands for the whole thing)

– Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;

3] Interrogation – (The question is asked not to obtain an answer but to emphasize a certain point)

– Is anybody happier because you passed his way?

– Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?

– 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?

         – Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

         – 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?

         – You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

Rhyme Scheme of the poem is aabb

a) About the poem /Poet and the title

This poem iswritten by the famous poet Edgar Guest. He was known as people's poet and writer. The title of the poem is self-explanatory.This is an inspirational poem.It is a thought provoking poem.

 b)Theme/central idea 

The poet has urged people and reader to be thoughtful in day to day life.The poet has put forward few questions.It made us to think if we are kind, generous, unselfish, patient and compassionate or not. We should be considerate in our lives. We are so selfish and engrossed that we do not bother about others.

c)Poetic devices, language,

style

     The use of interrogation is prominent. Out of sixteen lines,poet has used interrogation in eleven lines. The language is very simple. There is alliteration and rhyme. The poem has four stanzas of four lines each. The first Stanza has four lines having fourteen syllables.The second.third and Fourth have fifteen syllables.

d) special features, tone and type.                     

e) Message, values,moral in the poem.

     The message is clear.ones life is meaningful only if it is useful for humanity at large. If you are are able to help others and kind enough probably you may earn your tomorrow. Instead of waiting for tomorrow,you can utilise each day as if there would be no tomorrow.

f) your opinion about the poem :

I like the poem because it is related to our day to day life.It has a message for all the readers. I like the last stanza of the poem very much..It is an uplifting poem.we can start implementing the message conveyed in this poem.