A day peeps in,
a day peters out;
so it is for all days,
coming up, going down,
and all it takes to make it so
is that the dessert fork
be set above the plate,
and that the dinner fork
be placed left of the plate
on its napkin, folded just so,
neatly, corner to corner.
Do it this way,
and the day will be done.
And do remember also
to set the spoon,
to the right of the plate
and to the right of the knife,
its close companion.
Do it this way, every day,
so that the sun may rise
steadily up, and slip
placidly down.