Later, later

When I was a youngster the years stretched ahead of me
as a blue distant view too hazy to see
I could do anything as soon as try
learn seven languages, build bridges, fly –
but start right away? well, frankly, why?
You need something done? Ask some other guy.
- but life goes so fast

Why should I bother to study today?
Other people might worry: I’d rather play
and what was the point of all that old stuff?
trigonometry, dead kings, all far too tough!
I couldn’t be doing with all that guff.
At 12 I decided I’d studied enough.
- but life is so short

The world looked so huge, so strange, unexplored
still so much to see, and no time to be bored
I’d go where I wanted, nowhere out of bounds
deserts and mountains and far flung towns
countries whose names I could hardly pronounce
some day I’d explore all those new sights and sounds
- but life is soon past

Why do today what can wait till tomorrow?
and surely no need to buy what you can borrow.
I’d get round to it all one day, some time,
but then, struggling to learn while the weather was fine
seemed such a waste, almost a crime,
and nobody’s loss, anyway. Except mine.
- because life is soon over
- yes, life goes so fast
- oh, life is so short
- and life is soon past

April 2014