---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - The Bismarck Tribune
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 5
number: 3
published: 1902-01
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: "The Bismarck Tribune, \"The Procrastinator's Lullaby. A Poem,\" *Improvement Era* 5, no. 3 (January 1902): 229."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0503unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera0503unse
start_page: 229
end_page: 229
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1902-01)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0503unse
  publication_year: 1902
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1902, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Procrastinator's Lullaby. A Poem

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THE PROCRASTINATOR'S LULLABY.
The letter that I ought to write, and put off day by day,
The many tasks I ought to do, the calls I ought to pay,
The social favors that I owe, and should return — someway
I think of them and yawn — heigh-o-o! I'll wait another day.
The poem that I ought to write, the fame I should attain.
The laurels that my hands would reach, the name I hope to gain.
They urge me, scourge me, beckon me, revile me, but someway
I sit and think and yawn — heigh-o-o! I'll wait another day.
The little good I ought to do, the poor I ought to aid.
The weak I should lend succor to, all in my mind arrayed
March angrily and to and fro, I ought to — but someway
I sit and dream and yawn — heigh-o-o! I'll wait another day!
Since you're my friend — a valued friend — I don't mind telling you,
To do 'em all I do intend — the tasks I ought to do —
I thought this morning this would be the day, but now, someway,
I'm tired; I don't believe— heigh-o-o! I'd better — work — today.
The Bismarck Tribune.