The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/What's The Use

187728The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar — What's The UsePaul Laurence Dunbar

WHAT'S THE USE

What's the use o' folks a-frownin'
  When the way's a little rough?
Frowns lay out the road fur smilin'
  You'll be wrinkled soon enough.
         What's the use?

What's the use o' folks a-sighin'?
  It's an awful waste o' breath,
An' a body can't stand wastin'
  What he needs so bad in death.
         What's the use?

What's the use o' even weepin'?
  Might as well go long an' smile.
Life, our longest, strongest arrow,
  Only lasts a little while.
         What's the use?

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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