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The Busy Man

If you want to get a favor done

By some obliging friend,

And want a promise safe and sure

On which you may depend,

Don’t go to him who always has

Much leisure time to plan,

But if you want your favor done,

Just ask the busy man.

The man of leisure. never has

A moment he can snare;

He’s busy “putting off” until

His friends are in despair;

But he whose every waking hour

Is crowded full of work,

Forgets the art of wasting time –

He cannot stop to shirk.

So when you want a favor done,

And want it right away,

Go to the man who constantly

Works twenty hours a day.

He’ll find a moment, sure, somewhere

That has not other use,

And fix you while the idle man

Is framing an excuse.

- Author Unknown

Sourcebook of Poetry, Al Bryant page 429