This file is produced from the material at Harlem Shadows: A Digital Edition December 6, 2015 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical 4.0 International This file is generated from a master file containing the text of Claude McKay's 1922 collection of poems and related documents (other appearances of McKay's poems, reviews, and related material). The base text for this file is drawn from the item listed below. Claude McKay September, 1918 276 Is it Worth While? Is it worth while? This question ever I ask As the eternal mile I trudge along. Sick of life's thankless task, My tongue too leaden for song— O God! is it worth while? Yet I must go on, Though wearily I fair Through the valley of despair. I must go on and make no moan . . . I would lie low in the clean, green grass and sleep, In the silent night and deep; But I must go, I must go on. On through the pushing stream Of mortals harsh and proud, On through the clamorous crowd That dissipates my dream. All alone, Through the splashing, lashing torrent, Along the eternal mile, I must go on With this thought ever recurrent: Is it worth while