Edgar A. Guest (1881-1959) was an American poet whose verse gained mass exposure first in newspapers and then in the best selling 1916 collection A Heap O' Livin', which coined the phrase "It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home." Guest continued to produce sentimental poetry for over three decades, achieving popular but not critical success. He also had a lengthy radio career, headlining multiple series and formats between 1932 and 1941, pairing his verse readings at various times with music, light drama, and human interest interviews. His work later became a punchline in such varied outlets as Pogo and All in the Family.
References[]
- The Talking Houses discuss poetry in The Muppet Show episode 117. The first house says its uncle loves the work of Edgar Guest (he's a guest house, of course).