Poems (Whitney)/Half awake
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HALF AWAKE.
Ah, working-day life,
Pain, struggle and strife—
Ado and undoing,
Action and rueing,
Much undertaking,
Yet ne'er a thing making;
Purposing featly
To break as completely!
What do I live for?
What do I grieve for?
Millions like me have lived,
Millions like me have grieved;
Of each be it said
That earth was his bed,
And there he lay dreaming:
For a day, however it seemed,
He dreamed;—for a night, he dreamed that he dreamed.
Pain, struggle and strife—
Ado and undoing,
Action and rueing,
Much undertaking,
Yet ne'er a thing making;
Purposing featly
To break as completely!
What do I live for?
What do I grieve for?
Millions like me have lived,
Millions like me have grieved;
Of each be it said
That earth was his bed,
And there he lay dreaming:
For a day, however it seemed,
He dreamed;—for a night, he dreamed that he dreamed.