2 POEMS

How And When

Poet Unknown

We are often greatly bothered

By two fussy little men,

Who sometimes block our pathway –

Their names are How and When.

If we have a task or duty

Which we can put off a while,

And we do not go and do it –

You should see those two rogues smile!

But there is a way to beat them,

And I will tell you how:

If you have a task or duty,

Do it well, and do it now.

Similar, but shorter . . .

Once a task has just begun,

Never leave it ’til it’s done.

Be the labour great or small,

Do it well or not at all.

Quincy Jones (1933 - ), an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer, has cited his father, Quincy Delight Jones Snr, as the source of this poem. Jones says that this guiding principle was indicative of his father’s attempts to instil a strong work ethic in each of his children at an early age.