Equipment poem
By Edgar A. Guest
Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You’ve all that the greatest of men have had,
Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,
And a brain to use if you would be wise.
With this equipment, they all began,
So start for the top and say, "I can."
Look them over, the wise and great,
They take their food from a common plate,
And similar knives and forks they use,
With similar laces they tie their shoes.
The world considers them brave and smart,
But you’ve all, they had when they made their start.
You can triumph and come to skill,
You can be great if you only will.
You’re well equipped for what fight you choose,
You have legs and arms and a brain to use,
And the man who has risen, great deeds to do, (action)
Began his life with no more than you.
You are the handicap you must face, (hindrance, obstacle, barrier).
You are the one who must choose your place,
You must say where you want to go,
How much you will study the truth to know.
God has equipped you for life, but He
Lets you decide what you want to be.
Courage must come from the soul within,
The man must furnish the will to win.
So figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You were born with all that the great have had,
With your equipment, they all began,
Get hold of yourself, and say: "I can."
Poem: Equipment by Edgar Guest
Paraphrasing and Rhyme scheme
Stanza 1
Figure it out for yourself, my lad, A
You’ve all that the greatest of men have had, A
Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes, B
And a brain to use if you would be wise. B
With this equipment they all began, C
So start for the top and say, "I can." C
Paraphrasing
Think about it, young man: you have everything that the most successful people in
history had. You possess two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes, and a mind to think
wisely. With these same tools, they achieved greatness, so aim high and believe in
yourself by saying, “I can.”
Stanza 2
Look them over, the wise and great, A
They take their food from a common plate, A
And similar knives and forks they use, B
With similar laces they tie their shoes. B
The world considers them brave and smart, C
But you’ve all they had when they made their start. C
Paraphrasing
Examine the lives of the wise and accomplished people. They eat from the same kind of plates,
use the same type of utensils, and tie their shoes in the same way as everyone else. Though the
world sees them as exceptional, they started life with the same basic equipment as you.
Stanza 3
You can triumph and come to skill, A
You can be great if you only will. A
You’re well equipped for what fight you choose, B
You have arms and legs and a brain to use. B
And the man who has risen great deeds to do C
Began his life with no more than you. C
Paraphrasing
You have the potential to succeed and can master any skill if you have the desire to become
successful.You are fully enabled for any profession that you select, and for this you have
arms, legs, and a mind to achieve your goal. The greatest achievers in history began their
journeys with no more than you have right now.
Stanza 4
You are the handicap you must face, A
You are the one who must choose your place, A
You must say where you want to go, B
How much you will study the truth to know. B
God has equipped you for life, but He C
Lets you decide what you want to be. C
Paraphrasing
The biggest obstacle you face is yourself. You are the one who determines your path and
sets your goals. You must decide how much effort you will invest to learn and grow.
God has given you the tools for life, but it’s up to you to decide how to use them and
what you want to become.
Stanza 5
Courage must come from the soul within, A
The man must furnish the will to win. A
So figure it out for yourself, my lad, B
You were born with all that the great have had, B
With your equipment they all began. C
Get hold of yourself, and say: "I can." C
Paraphrasing
True courage comes from intrinsic motivation. Success depends on your determination
and willpower. So, take responsibility for yourself, young man. Remember, you were born
with all the abilities that the great and successful had when they started. Take control of
your life and confidently say, “I can.”
The rhyme scheme is the same in all stanzas: AABBCC
Central Idea the poem:
The poem "Equipment" by Edgar Guest emphasizes the intrinsic potential within every individual. It asserts that
everyone is born with the same basic abilities and tools for success, such as intelligence,
physical capabilities, and free will. Success and greatness depend on self-belief, effort, and
determination rather than external circumstances.
Theme:
The theme of "Equipment" by Edgar Guest revolves around self-reliance, determination, and the intrinsic equality
of human potential. The poem highlights that everyone is born with the same fundamental
tools: physical abilities, intellect, and free will, which are sufficient to achieve greatness.
Success is not determined by external circumstances but by the individual’s inner strength,
willpower, and dedication. Guest emphasizes personal responsibility, asserting that while
God provides the necessary equipment for life, it is up to each person to decide how to use
it. By overcoming self-doubt and embracing confidence, anyone can achieve their goals
and realize their potential.
Summary
In "Equipment," Edgar Guest motivates readers by highlighting that every person is born with the same fundamental
tools for success: two arms, two legs, two eyes, and a brain. Using these, great individuals have
achieved extraordinary things. The poet reminds us that success does not come from external
advantages but from inner determination and self-discipline. He stresses that the greatest obstacle
in life is oneself, and the key to overcoming it is courage and effort. Ultimately, the poem instills
confidence and motivates readers to trust in their ability to achieve greatness by adopting the
empowering mindset, "I can."
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Literary devices of this poem:
Edgar Guest’s "Equipment" employs several literary devices to convey its motivational message effectively. Analyze the key
literary devices that are used in the poem:
1. Alliteration
Definition: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of nearby words to create rhythm or emphasis.
Example: “Figure it out for yourself, my lad.”
The repetition of the f sound draws attention to the key idea of self-reliance.
2. Repetition
Definition: The repeated use of words or phrases to emphasize an idea or theme.
Example: “Figure it out for yourself” is repeated to stress personal responsibility.
This reinforces the central message of the poem.
3. Metaphor
Definition: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”
Example: “Equipment” is a metaphor for the innate abilities and tools (physical and mental) every person possesses.
4. Imagery
Definition: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create mental pictures.
Example: “Knives and forks they use, / With similar laces they tie their shoes.”
This visual imagery helps readers connect abstract ideas to everyday life.
5. Personification
Definition: Attributing human qualities to abstract concepts or inanimate objects.
Example: “Courage must come from the soul within.”
Courage is portrayed as a force within an individual, giving it life-like qualities.
6. Enjambment
Definition: The continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break without a pause.
Example:
“Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You’ve all that the greatest of men have had.”
The lack of a pause between lines reflects the continuity of thought.
7. Contrast
Definition: The presentation of opposing ideas or elements to highlight differences.
Example: External tools like “knives and forks” are contrasted with internal qualities like
“courage” to show the importance of inner strength.
8. Tone
Definition: A tone intended to uplift and motivate the audience.
Example: Throughout the poem, phrases like “Get hold of yourself, and say: ‘I can.’” inspire the reader to act with confidence and determination.
9. Hyperbole
Definition: Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis.
Example: “You’ve all that the greatest of men have had.”
This suggests that every individual is equally equipped as history's greatest
figures, emphasizing potential.
10. Rhyme Scheme
Definition: A pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines in poetry, often labeled with letters.
Example: The consistent AABBCC rhyme scheme:
“Figure it out for yourself, my lad, A
You’ve all that the greatest of men have had.” A
11. Parallelism
Definition: The use of similar grammatical structures in successive phrases or lines to create balance
and rhythm.
Example: “Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes.”
The repeated structure emphasizes equality in human potential.
12. Direct Address
Definition: Speaking directly to the audience, often using second-person pronouns.
Example: “Figure it out for yourself, my lad.”
The use of “you” and “my lad” creates a personal and motivational tone.
13. Didacticism
Definition: A style of writing that is intended to teach a moral lesson or provide guidance.
Example: The entire poem is didactic, as it imparts the message of self-reliance, perseverance, and
personal responsibility.
The poet's purpose is to motivate readers to take charge of their lives.
14. Symbolism
Definition: The use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts.
Example: “Equipment” symbolizes the physical and mental tools each person is given at birth, like arms, legs,
and a brain.
It stands for innate abilities that can lead to greatness.
15. Moral Aphorism
Definition: A concise statement that expresses a general truth or principle.
Example: “You are the handicap you must face.”
This line conveys the profound truth that self-doubt and personal limitations
are often the biggest obstacles to success.
16. Internal Rhyme
Definition: The use of rhyming words within a single line of poetry.
Example: “You are the one who must choose your place.”
The internal rhyme of “one” and “choose” creates a subtle musicality.
17. Imperative Language
Definition: The use of commands or instructions to encourage action.
Example: “Figure it out for yourself, my lad.”
The poet uses imperatives to directly motivate the reader to take control
of their destiny.
19. Juxtaposition
Definition: Placing two contrasting ideas close together to highlight their differences.
Example: “You are the handicap you must face, / You are the one who must choose your place.”
The contrast between “handicap” and “choose” emphasizes the power of
self-determination over personal limitations.
