by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 - 1898), as Lewis Carroll
Punctuality
Language: English
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 ope 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.
Authorship:
- by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 - 1898), as Lewis Carroll, written 1845 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Punctuality", 2014 [soprano and piano] [ sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2017-11-14
Line count: 25
Word count: 132