The Sum

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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?

© Paul Laurence Dunbar