Lyrics of Lowly Life/The Seedling

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

For other versions of this work, see The Seedling (Dunbar).

Layout 2

THE SEEDLING.

AS a quiet little seedling
 Lay within its darksome bed,
To itself it fell a-talking,
 And this is what it said:

"I am not so very robust,
 But I'll do the best I can;"
And the seedling from that moment
 Its work of life began.

So it pushed a little leaflet
 Up into the light of day,
To examine the surroundings
 And show the rest the way.

The leaflet liked the prospect,
 So it called its brother, Stem;
Then two other leaflets heard it,
 And quickly followed them.

To be sure, the haste and hurry
 Made the seedling sweat and pant;
But almost before it knew it
 It found itself a plant.

The sunshine poured upon it,
 And the clouds they gave a shower;
And the little plant kept growing
 Till it found itself a flower.

Little folks, be like the seedling,
 Always do the best you can;
Every child must share life's labor
 Just as well as every man.

And the sun and showers will help you
 Through the lonesome, struggling hours,
Till you raise to light and beauty
 Virtue's fair, unfading flowers.