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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DO IT NOW, by BERTON BRALEY Poet's Biography First Line: If with pleasure you are viewing any work a man is doing Last Line: For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead. Subject(s): Inspiration | |||
IF WITH PLEASURE you are viewing any work a man is doing, If you like him or you love him, tell him now; Don't withhold your approbation till the parson makes oration And he lies with snowy lilies on his brow; No matter how you shout it he won't really care about it; He won't know how many teardrops you have shed; If you think some praise is due him now's the time to slip it to him, For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead. More than fame and more than money is the comment kind and sunny And the hearty, warm approval of a friend. For it gives to life a savor, and it makes you stronger, braver, And it gives you heart and spirit to the end; If he earns your praise -- bestow it; if you like him let him know it; Let the words of true encouragement be said; Do not wait till life is over and he's underneath the clover, For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A DREAM OF WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS by ROBERT BLY POEM FOR JAMES WRIGHT by ROBERT BLY THE CHINESE PEAKS; FOR DONALD HALL by ROBERT BLY THE GAIETY OF FORM by ROBERT BLY WAITING FOR THE STARS by ROBERT BLY A PARIS BLACKBIRD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A SUNDAY DRIVE THROUGH EAGLE COUNTRY by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR FALLEN by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR |
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