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Punctuality
by
Lewis Carroll


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Man naturally loves delay,
And to procrastinate;
Business put off from day to day
Is always done too late.
 
Let every hour be in its place
Firm fixed, nor loosely shift,
And well enjoy the vacant space,
As though a birthday gift.
 
And when the hour arrives, be there,
Where'er that "there" may be;
Uncleanly hands or ruffled hair
Let no one ever see.
 
If dinner at "half-past" be placed,
At "half-past" then be dressed.
If at a "quarter-past" make haste
To be down with the rest
 
Better to be before your time,
Than e're to be behind;
To open the door while strikes the chime,
That shows a punctual mind.
 
Moral:
 
Let punctuality and care
Seize every flitting hour,
So shalt thou cull a floweret fair,
E'en from a fading flower
 
This poem is in the public domain.

Lewis Carroll (1832 - 1898) started life as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. A preacher’s son, he began writing poetry as a child, which he published in homemade newspapers. Despite a stammer (he called it "a hesitation") which plagued him throughout his life, Lewis was a popular public speaker, as well as a gifted mathematician and photographer. Writing was his true calling, though, and he published at least a dozen literary works and another dozen mathematical works which brought him great fame and fortune. Lewis loved word play and logic; many of his works include fun, nonsensical, or fantasy elements.


Post New Comment:
Dorcas:
Love it. I tend to be punctual, though.
Posted 03/25/2013 05:57 PM
KevinArnold:
Alas, punctuality is, at least for me, not unlike New Years resolutions--so much more easily wanted than achieved. Should I dash this off, even late for my writing group? Still, fine poem.
Posted 03/25/2013 11:28 AM


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