He Had a Year To Do It In

He had a year to do it in,
So brushed the thought away:
A chap with half his energy
Might do it in a day.
A year...? ‘Twas too ridiculous,
As everyone should find;
However, he would get it done,
And have it off his mind.

But not today. A few months hence
Would suit him better still.
Meanwhile, a far less irksome job
Might occupy his skill.
He would not let the matter pass
Entirely from him ... no;
And doubtless he might take it up,
In...say...a month or so.

He had six months to do it in,
For six long months had flown,
Well, why should that alarm a chap
With vigour like his own?
The job, whence once embarked upon
Would soon be rattled through;
However, he would think of it
In ... say, a week or two.

He had three months to do it in:
“Oh bother,” was his cry,
“This thing hangs on me like a weight
Each day that passes by.
Let’s see ... three months ... ah. That’s enough,
But just to clear the doubt
I’ll make arrangements for a start,
Before the month is out.”

He had a week to do it in,
And care was in his glance:
“It’s hard,” he cried, “that flight of time
Won’t give a chap a chance!”
He still delayed; the swift week passed,
As weeks will ever run,
And though a year was given him,
The task was still undone!

- Anonymous