After Failure

The careful, unremitting work
I did has not availed.
I gave my best to one large task,
And now I know I failed.

Today I’ll do the little things,
The things I can do best.
I’ll do the little, easy things
And give my heart a rest.

A dozen little things, well done,
Will lighten failure’s sorrow
And give me strength to try, once more,
The larger task tomorrow.

–From In Green Pastures (written in 1948?)

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