Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON FILE by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS

First Line: IF AN UNKIND WORD APPEARS
Last Line: THEN GO OUT AND BURN THE FILE.
Subject(s): COURAGE; VALOR; BRAVERY;
If an unkind word appears,
File the thing away.
If some novelty in jeers,
File the thing away.
If some clever little bit
Of a sharp and pointed wit,
Carrying a sting with it --
File the thing away.

If some bit of gossip come,
File the thing away.
Scandalously spicy crumb,
File the thing away.
If suspicion comes to you
That your neighbor isn't true
Let me tell you what to do --
File the thing away.

Do this for a little while,
Then go out and burn the file.



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