2.4 Have you earned your tomorrow
Title: Have you earned your tomorrow
1) The title is a verbal question to the readers to rethink the treatment that they are giving to others. It gives hint that we must help people around us. It confirms our bright future.
2) The title tells us ‘as you sow, so you shall reap’. As per the law of Newton what we give to others, it comes back forcefully to us. If we do good in present or in past, it will surely make our tomorrow (future) bright.
3) Today's good investment is tomorrow's gain. We should work honestly for better future.
4) It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from. Your good actions in the present will always be responsible to lead a good life ahead.
5) The poet is making aware us our duties and responsibilities to gain our fruitful future. Investing something good today means earning everything tomorrow.
About Poet
Edgar Albert Guest was a British-born American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th century and became known as the People's Poet. His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view of everyday life. Edgar Guest began his career at the Detroit Free Press in 1895, where he first worked as a copyboy. He was soon promoted to police writer and later to exchange editor. In 1904 he began writing verse for the Free Press under the heading "Chaff."
About the poem:
‘Have you earned your tomorrow’ is an inspirational poem. In this poem, the speaker is asking the readers whether they have done anything to improve the life of another human being or not. It is up to you whether you will have a better future or not. Therefore, one should consider one’s actions and deeds carefully and plan accordingly for a better future.
New words and their meanings
Toiling time- time spent in hard physical work.
Through - over
Utter (v)- speak.
Utter(adj)- complete, absolute, total
Cheerful- gay, happy, merry
Greeting- polite words or sign of welcome.
Came along-arrived, accompanied someone.
Churlish-rude, i'll mannered.
Howdy- an informal friendly greeting, (How are you?)
Vanish- disappear
Throng- a large crowd
Rushed (v)-moved with urgent haste,ran towards something in hurry
Rushed(n)-sudden quick movement towards something.
Mighty- gigantic, vast, strong, powerful.
Deed- doing
Part(ing) with- to give up, let go
Slipping fast- going or moving quickly, sliding, here getting over
Rejoice-joy, glee, thrill, mirth
Fading- gradually growing faint, disappearing, here losing hope
Courage- bravery
Sorely- extremely hard, painfully, mortally
Trail(n)-a mark or a series of signs or objects left behind by the passage of someone.
Trail(v)-leave behind
Scar- scratch, wound
Discontent- dissatisfaction
Slumber-sleep
Earned- rewarded, deserved to live for one more day
Figures of speech:
1) Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
Interrogation – A question is asked for emphasis.
Alliteration – The sound of letter of letter ‘h’ is repeated.
2) Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
Interrogation – A question is asked for emphasis.
Alliteration – The sound of letter ‘t’ is repeated.
3) This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through.
Alliteration – The sound of letter ‘t’ is repeated.
4) Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?
Interrogation – A question is asked for emphasis.
Inversion – The word order is changed.
5) Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
Interrogation – A question is asked for emphasis.
Alliteration – The sound of letter ‘g’ is repeated.
6) Or a churlish sort of “Howdy" and then vanish in the throng?
Interrogation – A question is asked for emphasis.
7) Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way.
Alliteration – The sound of letters ‘s’ and ‘w’ are repeated.
Oxymoron – ‘Selfish pure’ opposite words are placed together.
Paradox –‘selfish pure and simple’ the expression seems meaningless.
8) Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?
Alliteration – The sound of letter ‘d’ repeated.
Interrogation – A question is asked for emphasis..
9) Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said.
Alliteration – The sound of letter ‘s’ repeated.
Synecdoche – The part (heart) refers to a whole (a person).
10) Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?
Interrogation – A question is asked for emphasis.
Appreciation of the Poem:
The poem, 'Have You Earned Your Tomorrow' Is the inspirational poem of the well known British American poet Edger Guest. The poet used to write in a very simple language in optimistic way. That's why he is known as Peoples' Poet. The similar simplicity and optimism can be seen in the present poem. The poem is in a question form, the poet has been asking the questions to the readers. It is quatrains as it has four line stanza structure. The poem has four stanzas of four lines each with the regular rhyme scheme. The first line rhymes with the second and third line with the fourth. Hence the rhyme scheme of the poem is aabb, ccaa, ddee, ffaa. The speciality of the poem is that it has eleven questions in the poem, hence the prominent figure of speech in the poem is Interrogation. There is one more noticeable figure of speech in the poem that is Alliteration.
The main theme of the poem is inspiration. Its an inspirational poem which enable the readers to do the self Introspection and help us for the self improvement. The poet is clearly asking the readers that have they secure their future by helping others or doing our duties for others. The poet said that today's good deeds will be the treasure of tomorrow. It also focus on karma philosophy that is earn your tomorrow by doing good to others today. The questions in the poem are telling us to do good to others or to make someone's day.
The moral of the poem is that "As you sow so shall you reap" whatever you have done today same thing you are going to get back. For expecting good future from the future we should be good, do good to get good returns. I like this poem very much as it helps us for self improvement.
Good job.
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