IF you like a brother here, br Tell him so; br If you hold his friendship dear, br Let him know; br All the roses that you spread br On his bier when he is dead br Are not worth one kind word said br Years ago. br br You can help a brother now br If you will br Smooth the furrows from his brow; br You can kill br The despair that's in his heart br With a word, and ease the smart. br So why stand you now apart br Keeping still? br br You can help a brother when br He is here; br He would hold your praises then br Very dear. br But absurdly still you stay br And withhold what you could say br That would cheer him on his way br For his bier. br br What, I wonder, if the dead br Saw and heard br What is done and what is said br Afterward, br Would they utter in reply? br Would they smile and ask us why, br When the time to help was nigh, br No one stirred? br br 'Keep your roses for the living,' br They would say, br 'Waste no time in praises giving br Us today; br Strew some living brother's way so, br If you like another, say so, br For the thing that now you praise so br Is but clay.