Let us Recite — One Thing at a Time. Read the poem aloud and enjoy it.

Question

Accepted Answer

Here is the whole poem. Read it aloud twice. The second time, stop for one beat at the end of every line.

Work while you work,
Play while you play;
To be useful and happy,
That is the way.

All that you do,
Do with all your might;
Things done by halves,
Are never done right.

One thing at a time,
And that done well;
Is a very good rule,
As many can tell.

Moments should never,
Be trifled away;
So, work while you work,
And play while you play.

What each stanza says:

Stanza 1. When it is time to work, only work. When it is time to play, only play. This is the way to be useful and happy.
Stanza 2. Whatever job you take up, put your full strength into it. A job left half done is never done properly.
Stanza 3. Do one thing at a time, and do it well. Many people will tell you that this is a very good rule.
Stanza 4. Never waste small bits of time on silly things. So — work while you work, and play while you play.

Why the poem repeats its first line: The last two lines are almost the same as the first two lines. The poet says the rule again at the end so that you carry it home in your head. It is the one idea the whole poem is built on.

Tip for reciting: Say “Work while you work” in a firm voice. Say “Play while you play” in a happy, light voice. The two voices show that work and play are two different times.

Look at the pictures on page 35: A boy writes at a table under a lamp. A girl skips with a rope. A teacher shows a page to a boy at a desk. A girl sits on a bench, eats an apple and reads. A boy lies on the grass and writes in his book. A clock with arms and legs walks along and points one finger. Every child is doing one thing, and the clock is watching the time.

NCERT Solutions for Class 4th English Chapter 4 One Thing at a Time (poem) — Let us Recite