Quote of the Week, the Guy in the Glass

Instead of the usual quote of the week, I chose a poem that really hit home with all of us, for in the end it is what we think of ourselves that adds up. Hope you enjoy this poem from an obscure poet who knew what he was talking about.

THE GUY IN THE GLASS
by Peter "Dale" Wimbrow, Sr.

When you get all you want and you struggle for pelf,

and the world makes you king for a day,

then go to the mirror and look at yourself

and see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your mother, your father or wife

whose judgment upon you must pass,

but the man, whose verdict counts most in your life

is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please,

never mind all the rest.

For he's with you right to the end,

and you've passed your most difficult test

if the man in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world,

down the highway of years,

and take pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

if you've cheated the man in the glass.

A note from his son on his website says: Our father, Peter "Dale" Wimbrow Sr. wrote the poem "The Guy in the Glass in 1934. It was published in the American magazine at that time and the copyright was assigned to our father. The poem has become also known, incorrectly, as "The Man in the Glass" or sometimes, "The Man in the Mirror", but the thought is the same, the message clear...'you can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, but you can't fool the guy staring back from the glass'

Since he wrote the poem in 1934 and it was published, it has taken on a life of its' own and is usually seen as anonymous. Sadly somepeople have even taken to putting their name on it as their own creation. It escapes us as to why someone would falsely take credit for a poem about being honest with your self. One fellow in Salt Lake City, Utah said he wrote it in 1946 and the list goes on. Others have badly misquoted the poem, substituting the word 'self' for 'pelf', 'man in the glass' for 'guy in the glass' and others have left out other parts. Each word was chosen by him carefully and has special meaning. We are immensely proud of his work and welcome any and all dialogue from interested parties.

Our hope here is just to set the record straight and to provide the poem as it was actually written for any and all to use as our father's gift to the world. Our father was the most gifted and caring person we ever knew.... he would have wanted his work to be a gift and so do we. All we ask is that you properly credit him somewhere in your publication as the author.