The Nail On The Head

“When you’re building a boat or nailing a box,”

     My daddy has frequently said,

“Don’t wobble your hammer all over the lot,

     But hit the old nail on the head.”

“Don’t look all around to see what is new,

     Tend strictly to business instead;

Keep your eye on the nail, if you don’t wanter fail,

     And hit it right plunk on the head.”

“If you’re starting in life upon a new job,

     And have a stiff pathway to tread,

Don’t flounder around and say that you can’t,

     But you aim direct at its head.

And when you are tempted, my son, to do wrong,

     Don’t hesitate, feeling a dread;

Just take your old hammer and give him a slammer

     Right plunk on top of the head.

Feb. 25, ‘09