Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EXTRAS; THE MOAN OF MANY A MAN by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS

First Line: I DON'T MIND THE WORK
Last Line: HIS JOB -- AND NO MORE.
I don't mind the work,
The regular job,
The things I can do,
And know how to do,
And get used to it.

It's not this that frets,
And hinders and pulls,
And puts out of joint.

It's extras I mind,
It's this and it's that
I don't know about,
And cannot plan for,
And do not expect.

It's speeches to make,
And nothing to say;
It's calls to return,
And presents to give,
And letters to write,
Committees to meet,
And bores I must hear,
And quarrels adjust,
And jealousies calm,
And meetings for this,
And meetings for that,
And things I must do
That no one wants done,
That have to be done
Because they're the thing.

It's little things here,
And little things there,
That busy men do
"Because, as you know,
If you want a thing done,
You go to a man
Who has all he can do."

I don't mind my work,
My regular job,
If that were just all.
It's extras I mind,
That take up my time,
And eat up my strength,
And never say "thanks."

And heaven, I think,
Will just be a place
Where each man will do
His job -- and no more.



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