Halsted M. Bernard

The files are sorted, tabbed, and put away.
I’m going on vaca­tion soon, and so
I shelved another cart of books today.

I told my boss I’d take the cut in pay;
He gave me twelve days off, so I could go.
The files are sorted, tabbed, and put away.

He doesn’t notice what I think or say,
And when I leave, he might not even know.
I shelved another cart of books today;

That makes one-hundred-eight since yes­ter­day,
I tell myself, while straight­en­ing a row.
The files are sorted, tabbed, and put away,

And still, some­how, it doesn’t seem okay
For me to leave the place like this, although
I shelved another cart of books today.

Turn off the lights, and all the mess looks grey.
I should have left this place a while ago.
The files are sorted, tabbed, and put away.
I shelved another cart of books today.

 

© 1998 by Hal­sted M. Bernard for Lis­ter Hill Library