Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COUNT THAT DAY LOST by MARY ANN EVANS

First Line: IF YOU SIT DOWN AT SET OF SUN
Last Line: THEN COUNT THAT DAY AS WORSE THAN LOST.
Subject(s): RELIGION; THEOLOGY;
If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard --
One glance most kind,
That fell like sunshine where it went --
Then you may count that day well spent.

But, if, through all the livelong day,
You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay --
If, through it all
You've nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face --
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost --
Then count that day as worse than lost.


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