Dear Sir, Dear Madam, or Dear Friend, <br />With ease are written at the top; <br />When those two happy words are penned, <br />A youthful writer oft will stop, <br /> <br /> <br />And bite his pen, and lift his eyes <br />As if he thinks to find in air <br />The wished-for following words, or tries <br />To fix his thoughts by fixëd stare. <br /> <br /> <br />But haply all in vain-the next <br />Two words may be so long before <br />They'll come, the writer, sore perplext, <br />Gives in despair the matter o'er; <br /> <br /> <br />And when maturer age he sees <br />With ready pen so swift inditing, <br />With envy he beholds the ease <br />Of long-accustomed letter-writing. <br /> <br /> <br />Courage, young friend; the time may be <br />When you attain maturer age, <br />Some young as you are now may see <br />You with like ease glide down a page. <br /> <br /> <br />Even then when you, to years a debtor, <br />In varied phrase your meanings wrap, <br />The welcomest words in all your letter <br />May be those two kind words at top.<br /><br />Charles Lamb<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-young-letter-writer/
