The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/Keep A-Pluggin' Away

KEEP A-PLUGGIN' AWAY

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.