Have You Earned Your Tomorrow
Edgar Albert Guest
About The Author
After he began at the Detroit Free Press as a copy boy and then a reporter, his first poem appeared 11 December 1898. He became a naturalized citizen in 1902.
For 40 years, Guest was widely read throughout North America, and his sentimental, optimistic poems were in the same vein as the light verse of Nick Kenny, who wrote syndicated columns during the same decades.
From his first published work in the Detroit Free Press until his death in 1959, Guest penned some 11,000 poems which were syndicated in some 300 newspapers and collected in more than 20 books, including A Heap o' Livin' (1916) and Just Folks (1923–1957). Guest was made Poet Laureate of Michigan, the only poet to have been awarded the title.
About The Poem
‘‘Have You Earned Your Tomorrow’ by Edgar Guest presents a number of probing questions to a reader about how they spend their days.
The poet hopes that everyone does what they can to bring hope and courage to those who do not have it. The poem concludes with the speaker reminding the reader that it is up to God whether or not “you” have a tomorrow.
Have You Earned Your Tomorrow
by: Edgar Albert 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?
कल के हक़दार
Transcreated by
'Ambar' Kharbanda
क्या कोई हमसे मिल कर खुश हुआ है आज?
क्या हमने खुशिया बाँटी हैं, याद करो...
दिन तो लगभग गुज़र गया है, शाम हुई
किसी ने हमको दोस्त कहा है आज, कहो!
(क्या हमने खुशिया बाँटी हैं, याद करो)
सच्चे दिल से हाल किसी का पूछा क्या?
या हमने बस जल्दी में ही टाल दिया...
अपनी भागमभाग में थे हम व्यस्त बहुत
कोई खुश हो ऐसा भी कुछ काम किया?
(या हमने बस जल्दी में ही टाल दिया)
हमने किसी की मदद को हाथ बढाया था
आज शाम क्या ऐसा कुछ कह सकते हैं?
किसी निराशा में डूबे का साथ दिया
क्या ऐसा दा’वा भी हम कर सकते हैं?
हमने क्या बर्बाद कर दिया इस दिन को?
या फिर इसमें कोई अच्छा काम किया?
इन सब बातों से ही तो ये तय होगा
हमने अपने दिन क्या अंजाम किया
अच्छे कामों का तो फल मिलता ही है
कोशिश कर हमसे भी कुछ इस बार हुए!
आज के अच्छे कामों के बदले में ही
एक सुनहरे कल के हम हक़दार हुए
क्या कोई हमसे मिल कर खुश हुआ है आज?
क्या हमने खुशिया बाँटी हैं, याद करो...
दिन तो लगभग गुज़र गया है, शाम हुई
किसी ने हमको दोस्त कहा है आज, कहो!