To Daffodils

Fair daffodils, we weep to see
     You haste away so soon:
As yet the early-rising sun
     Has not attained his noon.
                Stay, stay,
         Until the hasting day
                    Has run
         But to the evensong;
And, having prayed together, we
             Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you,
     We have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
     As you, or anything.
                We die,
         As your hours do, and dry
                    Away
         Like to the summer's rain;
Or as the pearls of morning's dew
             Ne'er to be found again.

Robert Herrick