Franklin Pierce Adams

F.P.A.] (15 November 1881 – 23 March 1960 / Chicago, Illinois

Office Mottoes

Motto heartening, inspiring,
Framed above my pretty *desk,
Never Shelley, Keats, or Byring*
Penned a phrase so picturesque!
But in me no inspiration
Rides my low and prosy brow-
All I think of is vacation
When I see that lucubration:
DO IT NOW
When I see another sentence
Framed upon a brother's wall,
Resolution and repentance
Do not flood o'er me at all
As I read that nugatory
Counsel written years ago,
Only when one comes to borry
Do I heed that ancient story:
TELL HIM NO
Mottoes flat and mottoes silly,
Proverbs void of point or wit,
'KEEP A-PLUGGIN' WHEN IT'S HILLY!'
'LIFE'S A TIGER: CONQUER IT!'
Office mottoes make me weary
And of all the bromide bunch
There is only one I seri-
Ously like, and that's the cheery:

GONE TO LUNCH
108 Total read