Analysis of Show Me!

Edgar Albert Guest 1881 (Birmingham) – 1959 (Detroit, Michigan)



I would rather see a Mason, than hear one any day,
I would rather one would walk with me than merely show the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear.
And the best of all the Masons are the men who live their creeds,
For to see the good in action is what everybody needs.

I can soon learn how to do it if you'll let me see it done,
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lectures you deliver may be wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do.
For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.


Scheme AAXXBB CCDDXX
Poetic Form
Metre 11101010111101 111011111110101 01010100110101 11010101111 001110101011111 11101010111001 111111111111111 111110101111111 0010101011101 111011101010111 11100110010111 11100101110111
Closest metre Iambic heptameter
Characters 697
Words 142
Sentences 7
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 6, 6
Lines Amount 12
Letters per line (avg) 45
Words per line (avg) 12
Letters per stanza (avg) 271
Words per stanza (avg) 70
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 25, 2023

44 sec read
113

Edgar Albert Guest

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. more…

All Edgar Albert Guest poems | Edgar Albert Guest Books

1 fan

Discuss this Edgar Albert Guest poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Show Me!" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/8410/show-me%21>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    1
    day
    15
    hours
    17
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Who wrote the poem 'My Shadow'?
    A Sylvia Plath
    B Edgar Allan Poe
    C Robert Louis Stevenson
    D Maya Angelou