The Sum
by Paul Lawrence Dunbar
"A little dreaming by the way
A little toiling day by day;
A little pain, a little strife
A little joy, --and that is life.
A little short-lived summer's morn,
When joy seems all so newly born,
When one day's sky is blue above,
And one bird sings--and that is love.
A little sickening of the years,
The tribute of a few hot tears
Two folded hands, and failing breath,
And peace at last, --and that is death.
Just dreaming, loving, dying so,
The actors in the drama go--
A flitting picture on a wall,
Love, Death, the themes; but is that all?" | 