Summary
"Courage" is an inspirational poem by Edgar Albert Guest (1881–1959), an England-born American poet popularly known as the People's Poet. In this poem, Guest explores the true nature of courage, arguing that it is not a sudden burst of bravery or a dramatic act performed in a moment of crisis. Instead, courage is presented as a deep, permanent, and ingrained quality of character that resides within a person's soul at all times.
The poem systematically dismantles common misconceptions about courage. It is not instantaneous, not born of despair, not a flickering hope, not a last resort, and not a dazzling flash of light. Rather, courage is a slow, unwavering, and deeply rooted trait that requires patience, strength, and perseverance. A truly brave person carries courage within them always -- in times of joy and sorrow, in victory and defeat, behind smiles and tears.
The poem concludes with the powerful declaration that courage is "more than a daring deed" -- it is "the breath of life and a strong man's creed," emphasizing that courage is the very essence of a meaningful and purposeful life.
Full Poem
Stanza 1:
Courage isn't a brilliant dash,
A daring deed in a moment's flash;
It isn't an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
It isn't a creature of flickered hope
Or the final tug at a slipping rope;
But it's something deep in the soul of man
That is working always to serve some plan.
Stanza 2:
Courage isn't the last resort
In the work of life or the game of sport;
It isn't a thing that a man can call
At some future time when he's apt to fall;
If he hasn't it now, he will have it not
When the strain is great and the pace is hot.
For who would strive for a distant goal
Must always have courage within his soul.
Stanza 3:
Courage isn't a dazzling light
That flashes and passes away from sight;
It's a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait.
It's part of a man when his skies are blue,
It's part of him when he has work to do.
The brave man never is freed of it.
He has it when there is no need of it.
Stanza 4:
Courage was never designed for show;
It isn't a thing that can come and go;
It's written in victory and defeat
And every trial a man may meet.
It's part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
Courage is more than a daring deed:
It's the breath of life and a strong man's creed.
Themes
- True Nature of Courage: The central theme is that courage is not a momentary act of bravery but a permanent, deep-rooted quality of character. It is always present in a courageous person, not something summoned only in emergencies.
- Perseverance and Patience: Courage is closely linked with patience and the strength to wait. It is the quality that enables a person to keep working toward distant goals steadily and without wavering.
- Courage as a Way of Life: The poem presents courage not as an occasional display but as a way of living. It is present in everyday moments -- in hours, days, and years -- behind both smiles and tears.
- Inner Strength over Outward Show: Courage is not designed for show or display. It is an internal quality that manifests through consistent character rather than dramatic gestures.
- Universality of Courage: Courage is needed in all aspects of life -- work, sport, trials, victories, and defeats. It is described as "the breath of life," essential for human existence itself.
Literary Devices
- Rhyme Scheme (AABBCCDD): The poem follows a consistent couplet rhyme scheme throughout all four stanzas. Examples: dash/flash, thing/spring, hope/rope, man/plan.
- Anaphora: The repetition of "It isn't" and "It's" at the beginning of multiple lines creates emphasis and rhythm, reinforcing what courage is not and what it truly is.
- Metaphor: Courage is compared to various things -- "a brilliant dash," "a dazzling light," "the breath of life," and "a strong man's creed" -- to convey its deeper meaning.
- Negation as a Poetic Device: The poet uses a series of negations ("isn't a brilliant dash," "isn't an instantaneous thing," "isn't the last resort," "isn't a dazzling light") to define courage by eliminating misconceptions before revealing its true nature.
- Alliteration: Examples include "brilliant dash," "daring deed," "flickered...final," "slow...strength," "smiles...strong," and "come...creed," which add musicality to the poem.
- Contrast/Antithesis: The poet contrasts opposing ideas such as "victory and defeat," "smiles and tears," "work and wait," and "come and go" to show that courage exists in all circumstances.
- Personification: Courage is given human qualities -- it "works," is "born," is "designed," and can "come and go" -- making the abstract concept more vivid and relatable.
About the Poet
Edgar Albert Guest (1881–1959) was a prolific England-born American poet who became immensely popular in the first half of the 20th century. He was affectionately known as the People's Poet because his poems dealt with everyday life, common values, and universal human experiences. His poetry often carried an inspirational and optimistic tone, making complex ideas accessible to ordinary readers. He wrote over 11,000 poems during his career and was widely syndicated in American newspapers.
Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Instantaneous | Happening or done immediately; occurring at once |
| Flickered | Shone unsteadily; wavered or trembled |
| Strive | Make great effort; struggle or fight vigorously |
| Ingrained | Firmly established and hard to change; deep-rooted |
| Despair | Complete loss of hope |
| Unwavering | Steady; not changing or becoming weaker |
| Apt | Likely; having a tendency to |
| Dazzling | Extremely bright or impressive |
| Creed | A set of beliefs or principles; a guiding philosophy |
| Trait | A distinguishing quality or characteristic of a person |