Well, if the bee should sting the flower to death, With just one drop of honey for the stinging;If the high bird should break its airy breath, And lose the song forever with the singing, Why should I care?
If in our magic-books no charm is found To call back last night's moon from last night's distance;If violets cannot stay the whole year round, Spite of their odor and the dew's resistance, Why should we care?
If hands nor hearts like ours have strength to hold Fierce shining toys, nor treasures sweet and simple;If nothing can be held for love or gold; If kisses cannot keep a baby's dimple, Why should we care?
If sand is in the south, frost in the north, And sorrow everywhere, and passionate yearning;If stars fade from the skies; if men go forth From their own thresholds and make no returning, Why should we care?
If this same world can never be the same After this instant, but grows grayer, older,And nearer to the silence whence it came; If faith itself is fainter, stiller, colder, Why should we care?
And if the grass is but a pretty vail Spread on our graves to hide them when we enter;And, after we are gone, if light should fail, And fires should eat the green world to its center, Why should we care?
If tears were dry, and laughter should seem strange; And if the soul should doubt itself and falter;Since God is God, and He can never change, The fashions of the earth and Heaven may alter, Why should we care?
