Not Today Poem by Jim Yerman

He was the great procrastinator
He had a knack…a way
of putting off until tomorrow
what he should have done today…

His life was filled with ‘not todays'
Many responsibilities he would shun
When he looked at a task, "Not today! " he would say
and many things he left undone

As he was about to die
his family sat by his bed to pray
they asked if he was ready
he smiled… "Not today".

"There's still so much I want to see." he said
"So much I want do.
tomorrow I'll be ready instead
perhaps…when the day is new".

"Not today." he said with a sigh
"there're still a few lessons I'd like to instill."
"Not today." he repeated …"and here is why…
they're still a few promises I've yet to fill."

But death is unsympathetic.
We don't get to choose the day
"Not today." he whispered the last time closed his eyes
and silently drifted away.