A Little Turn Upon The Screw
He's always in by Eight A.M. and working on his Greek
And all alone he sweats away week after busy week.
The workload hasn't shrunk a bit, and he thinks he's a laggard.
But if he's always slovenly, then why's he always haggard?
A little turn upon the screw, there's always more that you could do.
Success or failure turn on you, you're never ever nearly through.
Day in and out you'll find him there with sore and burning eyes.
He's getting much of it all wrong, no matter what he tries.
And if he fails when failures count, all of it comes to nought,
And absolutely nothing is what all that labor's bought.
A little turn upon the screw, complaints are of no use to you,
They waste your time to study, too, you're never ever nearly through.
His back is sore from hunching as he puzzles out old print
And spots swim past his vision, and it does no good to squint.
His buttocks chafe from sitting in an unforgiving chair
As he works on for hours when nobody else is there.
A little turn upon the screw, selfpity's stupid (even true),
The only one concerned is you, you're never ever nearly through.
The Demon of Uncertainty dogs him thoughout his days
And whispers "There's no guarantee that honest effort pays!"
At night sleep has to batter through a Berlin Wall of cares
And he can't see the future, though he often sits and stares.
A little turn upon the screw, someone out there's better than you
You've tried, and often failed, too, you're never ever nearly through.
Someone would see him hold his head in final tired despair.
Someone would see him walking with a taught and worried glare.
Someone would see him wincing at the city's roar and blare.
Someone would see him aging if someone were only there!
A little turn upon the screw, so now you make them sad for you?
There's nothing anyone can do, you're never ever nearly through.
And when he spends his evenings as he always does, alone,
He can't tell people he can't see the truth over the phone.
That every day is misery, that there's no end in sight,
But merely certain failure if he can't get all things right.
A little turn upon the screw, do you want them to mourn you, too?
Your own tears are enough for you, you're never ever nearly through.
MensjeDeZeemeermjin. A Little Turn Upon The Screw. 2026.
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