Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

KEEP A-PLUGGING AWAY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

First Line: I'VE A HUMBLE LITTLE MOTTO
Last Line: KEEP A-PLUGGIN' AWAY.
Subject(s): COURAGE; VALOR; BRAVERY;
I'VE a humble little motto
That is homely, though it 's true, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.
It 's a thing when I 've an object
That I always try to do, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.
When you 've rising storms to quell,
When opposing waters swell,
It will never fail to tell, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.

If the hills are high before
And the paths are hard to climb,
Keep a-pluggin' away.
And remember that successes
Come to him who bides his time, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.
From the greatest to the least,
None are from the rule released.
Be thou toiler, poet, priest,
Keep a-pluggin' away.

Delve away beneath the surface,
There is treasure farther down, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.
Let the rain come down in torrents,
Let the threat'ning heavens frown,
Keep a-pluggin' away.
When the clouds have rolled away,
There will come a brighter day
All your labor to repay, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.

There 'll be lots of sneers to swallow,
There 'll be lots of pain to bear, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.
If you 've got your eye on heaven,
Some bright day you 'll wake up there, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.
Perseverance still is king;
Time its sure reward will bring;
Work and wait unwearying, --
Keep a-pluggin' away.



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