When Homer was writing his epics and such As part of his poet's vocation, I'll wager at seasons he didn't have much Of what people call "Inspiration." He probably said, "By the Gods, what a life! If I had my way I'd not jot a New line for a year—but I've kids and a wife; I don't wanta work but I gotta! "I gotta! I gotta! And so 'Do it Now' is my motta. The job of a bard is most terrible hard; I don't wanta work but I gotta!" With Shakespeare and Dante and Goethe and all The rest of the pets of the Muses, Be sure there were days when 'twas wormwood and gall To write what the world now peruses. Columbus and Cæsar, Napoleon too, And other great men would cry "What a— Oh what a darn bore are these jobs that I do, I don't wanta work but I gotta! "I gotta! I gotta! I'd rather play marbles or lotta. But the job must be did so it's 'Hop to it, Kid!' I don't wanta work but I gotta!" The moral I'll slip you is simple and plain, For this is a song with a moral; There are plenty of times when your hand and your brain Are prone with hard labor to quarrel. Yet most of the work that is truly worth while Is done by the birds who will not a- -Low moods to upset 'em; who say with a smile "I don't wanta work but I gotta! "I gotta! I gotta! I gotta be right on the spot, a Vacation must wait till this job's off the slate, I don't wanta work but I gotta!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 32 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING FOURTH BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 7. CHERRY RIPE by THOMAS CAMPION THE PORTENT by HERMAN MELVILLE ROSAMOND: KING HENRY'S SONG by JOSEPH ADDISON FRATERNITY by ANNE REEVE ALDRICH THE SPIRIT OF THE SABBATH by ISIDORE G. ASCHER COTTAGE GARDEN PRAYER by PATRICK REGINALD CHALMERS |