On file by John Kendrick Bangs

poetry

Nov 7

Written By

If an unkind word appears,
File the thing away.
If some novelty in jeers,
File the thing away.

If some clever little bit
Of a sharp and pointed wit,
Carrying a sting with it
File the thing away.

If some bit of gossip come,
File the thing away.
Scandalously spicy crumb,
File the thing away.

If suspicion comes to you
That your neighbor isn't true
Let me tell you what to do
File the thing away.

Do this for a little while,
Then go out and burn the file.

The man in the Moon by James Whitcomb Riley