PRACTICAL WISDOM 

from POETRY

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

  

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

 Old Time is still a-flying:

 And this same flower that smiles to-day

 To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

  The higher he 's a-getting,

 The sooner will his race be run,

 And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,

 When youth and blood are warmer;

 But being spent, the worse, and worst

 Times still succeed the former.

  

Then be not coy, but use your time,

 And while ye may, go marry:

 For having lost but once your prime,

   You may for ever tarry. 

 ~ Robert Herrick (1591–1674)

____________ FINDING FUN ____________

It's easier to bitch than stitch,
It's easier to whine than mine.

It's easier to make noise than to exhibit poise.
It's easier to say "I'm fucked," than to construct.

To sit in the gutter counting your woes

In shit-caked jeans with a runny nose
Ranting in puddles of frozen piss
Demonstrates only that something's amiss.

So, in the bleak winter 

Go shovel some snow ––

..... Cheer up the aged

...... And those who are caged

...... Some joy you might find

...... If you read to the blind

...... Don't play the whore,

...... Instead scrub the floor

Now get up and go!

In summer, each lazy laddie
And each slothful lass
Should get off their ass 

And go mow the grass.

Don't pout and make wishes

Just go wash the dishes.
If you need to find labor,

Go help your neighbor.

Demanding is easy 

Producing is hard
Protests are sleazy
Thus saith The Bard.

_________ EPILOGUE _________

There's always something you can do.
Don't succumb to feeling blue.

Salvation lies through helping others
Not thinking you deserve your druthers.

Never worry. Never fear.

Just do your best to spread good cheer.
Needed work is never done

Effort's where we find our fun.

And if you're old, and stuck at home,

You can always write a poem!

~ FreeThinke