Several literary devices are employed by the poet throughout ‘Don’t Quit.’ Among these are, but are not limited to: 1. The third stanza rhymes ABB, while the final four lines rhyme ABBC.Īlthough the poem does not adhere to a single rhyme scheme, the use of rhyme throughout aids in the creation of a consistent pattern, making the poem more song-like as a whole. The first and second stanzas rhyme AABBC and AABCD, respectively. The stanzas also contain numerous examples of perfect rhymes. The first two stanzas have five lines, known as quintains, the second has three lines, known as tercets, and the fourth has four lines. The poem concludes on the same note it began, encouraging readers to persevere even when “you’re hardest hit.” Structure and FormĮdgar Albert Guest‘s ‘Don’t Quit’ is a four-stanza poem divided into uneven sets of lines. “Rest if you must, but don’t quit,” he says on these occasions.Īs the lines progress, the speaker includes a number of hazy descriptions of people who have struggled and given up without realizing how close they were to success. One may wish to be happy but must contend with negative circumstances beyond their control. The speaker admits in the first stanzas of this poem that things will seem “low” at times in one’s life. Summary of the PoemĮdgar Albert Guest‘s inspirational poem ‘Don’t Quit’ should inspire readers to work hard no matter how impossible a situation appears. That work was followed by Just Folks (1918), Rhythms of Childhood (1924), Life’s Highway (1933), and Living the Years (1949). In 1916 Guest published A Heap O’ Livin’, a collection of verses that eventually sold more than 1,000,000 copies. Those columns evolved into an immensely popular daily feature entitled “Breakfast Table Chat,” which, at the height of its popularity, was syndicated in about 300 other newspapers. He was soon promoted to police writer and later to exchange editor, and in 1904 he began writing verse for the Free Press under the heading “Chaff.” Guest’s family relocated from Warwickshire, England to the United States in 1891, when Guest was 10 years old.Įdgar Guest began his career at the Detroit Free Press in 1895, where he first worked as a copyboy. writer whose poems were widely read during the first half of the 20th century. About the PoetĮdgar Albert Guest was a British-born U.S. So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst, you must not quit. Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,Īnd when you never can tell how close you are, Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor’s cup Īnd he learned too late when the night came down, Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man When care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit.Īnd many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.ĭon’t give up though the pace seems slow – you may succeed with another blow. When the funds are low and the debts are high,Īnd you want to smile but you have to sigh, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, Here’s to Pop, still getting his Princess through tough times.When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, He introduced me to Guest and I am glad to pass one sliver of Guest’s work along. I was exponentially blessed to have a grandfather with the brain of an engineer and the heart and eyes of a poet. It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit. So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – When he might have captured the victor’s cup Īnd he learned too late when the night came down,Īnd you never can tell how close you are, When he might have won had he stuck it out.ĭon’t give up though the pace seems slow – When the funds are low and the debts are high,Īnd you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, Let it speak to you when you need the reminder. Edgar Guest was known as the “People’s Poet,” and you’ll soon understand why. Heard these words echoing in my brain today and thought I’d share them.
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