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1872–1906

KEEP A-PLUGGIN’ AWAY

Paul Laurence Dunbar

I‘ ve a humble little motto That is homely, though it‘ s true,— Keep a-pluggin’ away. It's a thing when I‘ ve an object

That I always try to do,— Keep a-pluggin’ away. When you‘ ve rising storms to quell, When opposing waters swell,

It will never fail to tell,— Keep a-pluggin’ away. If the hills are high before And the paths are hard to climb,

Keep a-pluggin’ away. And remember that successes Come to him who bides his time,— Keep a-pluggin’ away.

From the greatest to the least, None are from the rule released. Be thou toiler, poet, priest, Keep a-pluggin’ away.

Delve away beneath the surface, There is treasure farther down,— Keep a-pluggin’ away. Let the rain come down in torrents,

Let the threat'ning heavens frown, Keep a-pluggin’ away. When the clouds have rolled away, There will come a brighter day

All your labor to repay,— Keep a-pluggin’ away. There‘ ll be lots of sneers to swallow, There‘ ll be lots of pain to bear,—

Keep a-pluggin’ away. If you‘ ve got your eye on heaven, Some bright day you‘ ll wake up there,— Keep a-pluggin’ away.

Perseverance still is king; Time its sure reward will bring; Work and wait unwearying,— Keep a-pluggin’ away.

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KEEP A-PLUGGIN’ AWAY · Paul Laurence Dunbar · Poetry Cove