Interludes and Undertones, or, Music at Twilight By Charles Mackay |
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| LXXVI. | LXXVI. THE REASON WHY.
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 | Interludes and Undertones, or, Music at Twilight |  |
98
LXXVI. THE REASON WHY.
If man is born to sorrow,
And flowers but bloom to die,
If fondest love is like them—
Wouldst ask the reason why?
And flowers but bloom to die,
If fondest love is like them—
Wouldst ask the reason why?
If glory's but a sparkle,
And fame a fickle cry,
And life a restless nightmare,
Wouldst know the reason why?
And fame a fickle cry,
And life a restless nightmare,
Wouldst know the reason why?
Thou wouldst! poor fool presumptuous!
Thy wing's too weak to fly
To height of such great riddles,
Ask not the reason why!
Thy wing's too weak to fly
To height of such great riddles,
Ask not the reason why!
If sunshine light and cheer thee,
Why shouldst thou mope and sigh,
Because thou canst not fathom
The useless reason why!
Why shouldst thou mope and sigh,
Because thou canst not fathom
The useless reason why!
The Cynic in his barrel
Was thankful for the sky,
Nor sought, in upstart wisdom,
For any reason why.
Was thankful for the sky,
Nor sought, in upstart wisdom,
For any reason why.
99
'Twere well to imitate him,
Though lowly, he was high;
Mere life is worth possessing,
Although we know not why.
Though lowly, he was high;
Mere life is worth possessing,
Although we know not why.
I'll smile if I am happy—
And if I'm sad I'll sigh,—
As careless as a shadow,
Nor ask the reason why!
And if I'm sad I'll sigh,—
As careless as a shadow,
Nor ask the reason why!
| Interludes and Undertones, or, Music at Twilight | |