Today

Today came, smiling, toward me
Arms laden with brightly wrapped gifts.
And I said, "I'll be with you in just a minute."
You see, I was in this conversation with Yesterday
- I forget exactly what it was all about -
And it went on and on.
I called out to Today,
"I'll be right with you."
Then, when Yesterday finally finished with me
And before I could get back to Today,
Tomorrow barged right up and began talking.
I called out to Today,
"Just give me a few more minutes."
Well, Tomorrow would be satisfied with nothing less
Than dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's -
I forget what it was all about, really.
(You know how tomorrow can be.)
So I called out to Today,
"Just hang in there."
Tomorrow, satisfied at last, left me.
And I looked up.
And Today was gone.

- Leo P. Rock, S.J.