The Guy in the Glass is a poem written by Dale Wimbrow in 1934. It is a poignant and thought-provoking piece that encourages the reader to take a good look at themselves and be honest about who they are. The poem begins with the lines:
"When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day Just go to the mirror and look at yourself And see what that guy has to say."
These lines set the stage for the rest of the poem, in which the speaker advises the reader to go to the mirror and look at themselves. The implication is that when we achieve success or are recognized for our accomplishments, it is important to take a moment to reflect on who we are and what we have done to get to where we are.
The poem goes on to say that the person in the mirror is the one who knows the truth about us. He is the one who sees us when we are alone and when we are pretending to be something we are not. The speaker advises the reader to be honest with themselves and to listen to what the person in the mirror has to say.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as it reminds the reader that ultimately, it is not the accolades or praise of others that matters, but rather our own self-respect and integrity. The lines read:
"He's the one to please, never mind all the rest For he's with you clear up to the end And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the guy in the glass is your friend."
In other words, if we are able to look at ourselves in the mirror and be satisfied with who we are, then we have truly succeeded. We have passed the test of being true to ourselves and living a life of integrity.
In conclusion, The Guy in the Glass is a thought-provoking poem that encourages the reader to take a good look at themselves and be honest about who they are. It reminds us that it is not the praise of others that matters, but rather our own self-respect and integrity. It is a powerful reminder to always be true to ourselves and to listen to the voice of the person in the mirror.