GeorgeEliot
Ifyousitdownatsetofsun
Andcounttheactsthatyouhavedone,
And, counting, find
Oneself-denyingdeed, oneword
Thateasedtheheartofhimwhoheard,
Oneglancemostkind
Thatfelllikesunshinewhereitwent—
Thenyoumaycountthatdaywellspent.
Butif, throughallthelivelongday,
You'vecheerednoheart, byyeaornay—
If, throughitall
You'venothingdonethatyoucantrace
Thatbroughtthesunshinetooneface—
Noactmostsmall
Thathelpedsomesoulandnothingcost—
Thencountthatdayasworsethanlost.
