When I Get Time

I’m going to do a lot of things

     When I get time;

I’ll do ‘em up complete, by jings,

     When I get time.

I’ve put ‘em off till by and by,

And day by day they multiply,

But I’ll just put ‘em on the fly,

     When I get time.

There’s scores of books I’m going to write

     When I get time;

There’s legal battles I will fight,

     When I get time.

There’s costly presents I will send,

A million dollars I will spend,

And wayward habits I will mend,

     When I get time.

There’s bills galore that I will pay,

     When I get time;

An evening or two to play,

     When I get time.

I’ll square accounts with good and bad,

And soon forget the trials I’ve had –

O, won’t I be a poet glad!

     When I get time.

I’ve set my mind on being good,

     When I get time;

I’ll be much better understood,

     When I get time.

I’ll write some interesting stuff,

O, speed that day with “time enough” –

But I can’t finish up this bluff

     I haven’t time.

May 31, 1903