Friday, February 7, 2025

A POEM - THE FEW



The easy roads are crowded

And the level roads are jammed;

The pleasant little rivers

With drifting folks are crammed.

But off yonder where it’s rocky,

Where you get a better view, 

You will find the ranks are thinning

And the travelers are few.


Where the going’s smooth and pleasant

You will always find the throng,

For the many, more’s the pity,

Seem to like to drift along.

But the steps that call for courage,

And the task that’s hard to do

In the end result in glory

For the never-ending few.



The Few 

by 

Edgar Albert Guest





Edgar Allen Guest (August 20th, 1881 - August 5th, 1959), was a British-born American poet who became known as the People’s Poet. His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view of everyday life. He was born in Birmingham, England in 1881. In 1891 his family moved from England to Detroit, Michigan, where Guest lived until he died. 

My photo is a reshare from a photo I took in Alaska in 2018. 





57 comments:

  1. I like the poem! I think I may have heard of him, but knew nothing about him. Your Alaska photo is unbelievable! Who is the person in it?

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    1. Hi Ginny, I knew the author but didn’t know this poem. I don’t know who that person was. I was looking at the view more than anything and saw them come into frame and took the photo. .

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  2. Great photo and I like the poem. Traditional and reassuring.

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  3. This poem reads so smooth and profound

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  4. Love the poem, it is so true! Happy Friday! Take care, have a happy day!

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    1. Thank you Eileen, much appreciated and I wish you the same :)

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  5. Interesting poem...and I love the photo!
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. That’s great, thank you Donna and sending hugs :)

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  6. And that is exactly why I always stray from the proverbial beaten path.

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    1. And we benefit when you share those wonderful photos :)

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  7. What a nice poem. I've never read it before. Thanks for sharing it.

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  8. I love this brilliant poem that reads like a song and is both timely and timeless.

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    1. Thank you Penelope, exactly how I feel about it :)

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  9. That poem speaks so clearly of what is important in life. Be a sheep, following the crowd, or carve your own path.

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  10. So beautiful.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  11. I think the person standing out there alone should be called The Idiot, not the few. ha ha... not me, I want the well traveled paths, like the ones in your parks that you show us.

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    1. LOL! Well, if I could and if I was sure footed, which I used to be when I was young, I would be clambering all over those rocks, which I did a lot of at the seashore, but much nearer to level ground :) Most of my walks are now well-traveled by many but there seems to be room for all of us :)

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  12. Today was a catch up day for me as I read all your blogs from the week. Loved them all! The donkey story was very cute. I love the fact that you can have open dialogue with your husband on things you don't necessarily see eye to eye on. And you sold yourself short on your dinosaur drawing. 10x's better than I could have done!

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    1. Thanks Jim, I hope all goes well with you and Barb :) Thank you very much for the kind words.

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  13. I have read a few of Guest's poems and I appreciate them. It's poetry that I can understand for the most part and I find him easy to read. Thanks for sharing this one. It makes me think of the Bible verses about the Wide Road and the Narrow Road.

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    1. They are lovely aren’t they? That’s a lovely comparison. Thank you Ellen :)

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  14. This is new to me and I do love each line.
    Thank you for sharing...I am certain in another life I lived in the mountains of Italy.
    I love Italian food and mountains.
    Hugs Cecilia

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    1. That’s great Cecilia, and how wonderful. I too love the mountains and Italian food. I always seem to be drawn to the mountains more than anywhere else. Thank you and sending hugs :)

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  15. That photo....wow! The poem speaks the truth.

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    1. Thanks Sandra for photo and poem, and yes it does :)

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  16. Inspiring poem!
    Hope you are having a great day. :)

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  17. Beautiful words. Have a great weekend, Diane

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    1. Thank you Diane and you have a great weekend also :)

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  18. Thank you Denise for this wonderful photograph and an enjoyable poem.

    All the best Jan

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    1. You are very welcome Jan , I am happy you enjoyed them. All the best to you too :)

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  19. I have a book that belonged to my grandmother by Edgar Guest. I wonder if it's the same. The book is pretty old. I love this poem.

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    1. How wonderful Val, and what a treasure from your grandmother. So glad you loved the poem. It is one I enjoyed immensely :)

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  20. Me gusto el poema. lo que uno desea siempre requiere esfuerzo. Te mando un beso.

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    1. Gracias y me gustó mucho tu comentario. Te mando un beso.

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  21. This is so true and beautiful, Denise. I hope you're doing well. Have a peaceful weekend.

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    1. I am happy you liked it Kay, thank you :) we are doing well and I wish you the same :)

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  22. Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.


    I know, I know, wise words of Jerry Seinfeld! 😅

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    1. LOL! I'll have to remember that one. That's a great quote. Thanks Sandi :)

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