Count That Day Lost by George Eliot

Published: Jan. 12, 2008, 7:19 p.m.

George Eliot read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\nhttp://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\nGiving voice to the poetry of the past.\n\n------------------------------------------------\n\nCount That Day Lost\nby George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) (1819 \u2013 1880)\n \nIf you sit down at set of sun\nAnd count the acts that you have done,\nAnd, counting, find\nOne self-denying deed, one word\nThat eased the heart of him who heard, \nOne glance most kind\nThat fell like sunshine where it went -\nThen you may count that day well spent.\n\nBut if, through all the livelong day,\nYou've cheered no heart, by yea or nay -\nIf, through it all\nYou've nothing done that you can trace\nThat brought the sunshine to one face-\nNo act most small\nThat helped some soul and nothing cost -\nThen count that day as worse than lost.