The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/The Sum

THE SUM

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, the 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?