Emulation of Hamlet's Third Soliloquy

To think or not to think — that is the question:
Whether 'tis easier to accomplish other tasks
And be fulfilled
Or to sit and ponder
And, by doing nothing, achieving little.

To do, to comprehend the universe—
No more — and by finishing the work at hand
The certain requirements
That each job creates—
'Tis a dilemma
I do not desire to think about.

To think, to execute—
To exhaust oneself beyond belief. Ay, there's the problem,
For when one overexerts and is injured
While not being aware of our surroundings
Makes us realize the irony
In which we are now unable to work,
Yet are left to pacify ourselves with thinking.

For who wants to sit and endure the starvation,
The frustration,
The harsh headaches,
The constant need of aspirin,
And the all too many conclusions one never is able to reach,
Because not even the most quizzical riddles
Stop to think for themselves?

Who would heed the activity's danger,
To be safe and knowing that you will not be harmed,
Whilst others who leaped before thought
Find themselves in hospital beds and wheel chairs
Regretting they had not deduced
Instead of taking their time?

Thus the irony makes minor philosophers of us all,
And even the inconvenience of waiting
Is bestowed on every smart being
But sometimes even the required allotment of time
Is cut short to allow for action,
Spur of the moment or not,
And so lose the dark of night to dream, in place of the desired light of day for work.

Written 4/26/06