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Edgar A. Guest, A Heap o' Livin' (Chicago: Reilly & Lee, 1916): 28-30. PS 3513 U45 H4 1916 York University Library
1It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
2A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
3Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
4An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
5It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
6How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
7It ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
8Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.
9Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
10Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
11Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
12Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
13And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
14With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
15The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
16Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumbmarks on the door.
17Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
18An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
19An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
20An' close the eyes o' her that smiled, an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
21Fer these are scenes that grip the heart, an' when yer tears are dried,
22Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
23An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
24O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.
25Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
26An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
27Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
28Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
29Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes' t' run
30The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
31Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
32It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.
Publication Start Year
1916
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 2000.
Rhyme