Practicin'

It takes a certain discipline

to keep myself a-practicin'.

Of scales and exercises grand,

there never is an end.

*

I find the work is worth my time,

for fingers sure and notes sublime

do clear the cobwebs from my mind.

*

But when the sunshine fair appears,

my eyes will thrill to meet its rays--

against the light within my ears,

it takes a certain discipline

to keep myself from practicin'.