Count the Day Lost By:George Elliot (Mary Ann Evans)

Count the Day Lost If you sit down at set of sun And count the acts that you have done, And, counting, find One self-denying deed, one word That eased the heart of him who heard, One glance most kind That fell like sunshine where it went -- Then you may count that day well spent. But if, through all the livelong day, You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay -- If, through it all You've nothing done that you can trace That brought the sunshine to one face-- No act most small That helped some soul and nothing cost -- Then count that day as worse than lost.

Count the Day Lost The poem is basically saying that a day spent helping people can be considered a really good day. Even if you do one small thing to help someone in a tiny way, the day has not been lost because of the joy you brought to another person. However, if at the end of your day, you can remember nothing that you did that was helpful or comforting or compassionate towards another person, consider the day lost because you had a golden opportunity to be a better person and you missed it.

Count the Day Lost Unlike the titles of many works, the title of this poem is absolutely integral to the poem’s meaning. The title immediately creates suspense. What day (we wonder) does the title imply? In what ways will our days be “lost”? Answers to these questions are postponed until the very end of the song.

Count the Day Lost We can see there are two distinct types of days –worthwhile and worthless. This information about the poet puts the poem in a social context. It gives us in sight into the poet's reason for writing this poem implies that society can be improved. If each of us does his or her part it's. It's everyone's responsibility to help others.

Count the Day Lost The song means that our purpose in life is to make other people live easier by helping them or by making others smile. This message is reflected in the poem which states that we should make our lives meaningful by helping or being more compassionate towards others.