Poem 14
AT SET OF SUN
If we sit down at set of sun, And count the things that we have done,
And counting, find One self-denying act, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance, most kind, That fell like sunshine where it went---
Then we may count that day well spent.
Or, on the other hand, if we, In looking through the day, can see
A place or spot Where we an unkind act put down,
Or where we smiled when wont to frown,
Or crushed some thought That cumbered the heart---
ground where it stood---
Then we may count that day as good.
But if, through all the life-long day, We've eased no heart by yea or nay;
If through it all We've done no thing that we can trace,
That brought the sunshine to a face---No act most small
That helped some soul, and nothing cost---
Then count that day as worse than lost.
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
