Analysis of Things Work Out

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



Because it rains when we wish it wouldn't,
Because men do what they often shouldn't,
Because crops fail, and plans go wrong-
Some of us grumble all day long.
But somehow, in spite of the care and doubt,
It seems at last that things work out.

Because we lose where we hoped to gain,
Because we suffer a little pain,
Because we must work when we'd like to play-
Some of us whimper along life's way.
But somehow, as day always follows the night,
Most of our troubles work out all right.

Because we cannot forever smile,
Because we must trudge in the dust awhile,
Because we think that the way is long-
Some of us whimper that life's all wrong.
But somehow we live and our sky grows bright,
And everything seems to work out all right.

So bend to your trouble and meet your care,
For the clouds must break, and the sky grow fair.
Let the rain come down, as it must and will,
But keep on working and hoping still.
For in spite of the grumblers who stand about,
Somehow, it seems, all things work out.


Scheme AABBCC DDEEFF GGBBFF HHIICC
Poetic Form
Metre 0111111110 0111111010 01110111 11110111 110110101 11111111 011111111 011100101 0111111111 111100111 111111001 1110101111 011100101 0111100101 011110111 111101111 1111010111 010111111 1111100111 1011100111 1011111101 111100101 1011011101 1111111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 979
Words 192
Sentences 10
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 32
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 192
Words per stanza (avg) 48
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 28, 2023

59 sec read
427

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

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