The urge to scribble in books and printed articles I fight
I typically underline or highlight text, in the margins write
When I want to retain information, which has already become
An uphill battle with advancing age, by measures some
But I buy few books, usually I borrow
Books from the library, and I cannot be as thorough
In reading them as the books in which pens I can use
If I really want to remember the contents of a book, I should choose
To buy it instead of checking it out from the local library
Otherwise the information is likely to vanish from my memory
*
When I was younger, and had to memorize
Information from textbooks, I would organize
Key concept in the margins, using multi-colored pens
Right before a test, on those notes for revision I would depend
I still have to take tests periodically
But I am unable to employ the same strategy
*
These days when I do scribble in margins it is not always legible
The organization of my margin notes is also terrible
Therefore personal books and articles often unmarked I leave
This affects my retention of the subject matter, I believe
As a grown-up many of my books look pristine
The era of scribbling in margins they have not seen
Passion...unbridled 