We live in a fast-paced world. It’s chaotic, and there’s this drive to succeed and compete; the need to make more money, have more followers, get a better car, a bigger house, etc.
The list goes on and on. Why do we do it? What drives this hunger? Is it for ourselves, or do we seek these things to earn the approval of other people? Dale Wimbrow reminds the reader that only your judgment of yourself is what matters, and at the end of the day after you get all the wealth, fame, and success you sought – you need to be able to look yourself in the eye and smile.
The Guy in the Glass
When you get what you want in your 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 guy has to say.
For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.
He’s the feller 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.
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 pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.
Summary of “The Guy in the Glass”, Dale Wimbrow
This inspirational poem written by Dale Wimbrow is commonly known as “The Man in the Glass” and “The Man in the Mirror.” A poem that goes by many names, and unfortunately, has been seen as “anonymous” or credited to others. Wimbrow is the rightful author of this insightful poem that explores life’s meaning, who we are in it and the importance of self-reflection. The poem addresses you as a general reader. Ultimately, the speaker tells the listener that you need to be able to look yourself in the mirror as your judgment of yourself is the only judgment that matters in this world. Looking yourself in the mirror has become an expression of conscience. If you can do so, your conscience is free, and you will live a happy life.
Analysis of “The Guy in the Glass”, Dale Wimbrow
“The Guy in the Glass” is written in quatrains with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD. Wimbrow has not used a single metrical pattern and used simple language, which is one of the reasons this poem resonates with so many people. Wimbrow has made it accessible and yet still incorporated a great deal of skill and finesse. He has used poetic techniques, including sibilance, alliteration, personification, and caesura. Alliteration is used with the /m/ sound in the first stanza with “mirror and “man,” and again in stanza two with “mother,” “must,” and “most.” Wimbrow has personified a person’s reflection as if it can pass judgment onto the person looking at it – as if your reflection is judging you when you look in the mirror, and can be nice or a little cold. Let’s look at this in a little more detail by examining each stanza, line by line.
When you get what you want in your 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 guy has to say.
Wimbrow sets the scene right away, and we know the speaker is directing this to the reader with the use of “you” in line 1. In some versions of the poem online, you will see the word “pelf” altered to read “self.” The world pelf means wealth. He suggests that when the reader is successful and feels like they have gotten the wealth they sought or are “King for a day,” they should go over and look in the mirror and “see what that man has to say.” He’s essentially saying, go take a good hard look at yourself – what do you think? What does your heart say? What’s your conscience say? Here we are introduced to the metaphor of your reflection being your conscience.
For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.
In this second stanza, the author elaborates on the points made in the previous stanza. The only judgment that really counts is one’s own. It’s not “your Father, or Mother, or Wife,” as stated in line 5. He concludes the stanza in lines 7 and 8, saying that in your life, the only judgment or “verdict” that counts is yours. Again, he makes reference to one’s conscience as their reflection, “the guy staring back from the glass.”
He’s the feller 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.
Now the author tells us a little more about the “guy in the glass’, and who (personification) our reflection is. Again, we’re told that our reflection, aka conscience, is the one to please. People will come and go, but our conscience and sense of self is with us “to the end.” The reader can feel good about their life if they are at ease when looking in the mirror. In lines 11 and 12, the author says, “And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test / If the man in the glass in your friend.” Our reflection has the ability to pass judgment on us, and we want it to be positive.
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.
Here, the author puts the reader in check. You may think you are this great, amazing guy, but if you can’t look yourself in the eye when you are looking in the mirror – you’ve got some issues to work out. The “guy in the glass” will determine just how much of a “wonderful” guy you really are.
You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.
This last stanza contains the most powerful message; a message more people need to hear today. The author says, “you can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, / And get pats on the back as you pass,” – if we consider the meaning of these lines in a modern day context, we can think of the media. In both mainstream and social media, an individual can fool the world and be perceived as a good person. They’ll receive praise and “pats on the back.” The author then hits us with a strong “but” – but if you have lied to yourself and cheated your conscience, this will all come to a screeching halt that will leave you with “heartaches and tears.”
Themes in “The Guy in the Glass”, Dale Wimbrow
One of the most obvious themes in “The Guy in the Glass” is the theme of self-reflection and introspection. Wimbrow tells the reader how important it is and that the opinion one has of themselves is what matters most. You need to be able to like yourself. When you take the time to reflect on who you are as a person – do you like what you see? Do you like who you are? If you can’t metaphorically look yourself in the eye, you need to fix this. You will be able to live a happy and free life if your conscience is at peace.
Background of “The Guy in the Glass”, Dale Wimbrow
Peter “Dale” Winbrow Sr. was born in 1867 in Maryland, U.S. He was a talented poet, composer, and radio artist. The poem “The Guy in the Glass” was Wimbrow’s claim to fame, although he did create several well-known musicals as well. The poem was written in 1934 and published in The American Magazine. After being published in an Ann Landers column as “anonymous,” the true author was eventually revealed, and she correctly identified the author of the poem as Dale Wimbrow. The poem has been recited to soldiers and athletes to inspire and motivate on both the battlefield and sports field.
Wimbrow’s poem is deep and introspective, and the message is just as true as it was in 1934. Over the years, the poem has taken on a life of its own. There are modified versions floating around the internet with slight changes, different titles, and providing credit to various authors or none at all. Although Wimbrow may not get the consistent credit and “pats on the back” as he deserves for writing such a beautiful poem, we hope the “guy in the glass” was his friend, after all – that’s what matters most.