What is song's eternity? br Come and see. br Can it noise and bustle be? br Come and see. br Praises sung or praises said br Can it be? br Wait awhile and these are dead - br Sigh, sigh; br Be they high or lowly bred br They die. br br What is song's eternity? br Come and see. br Melodies of earth and sky, br Here they be. br Song once sung to Adam's ears br Can it be? br Ballads of six thousand years br Thrive, thrive; br Songs awaken with the spheres br Alive. br br Mighty songs that miss decay, br What are they? br Crowds and cities pass away br Like a day. br Books are out and books are read; br What are they? br Years will lay them with the dead - br Sigh, sigh; br Trifles unto nothing wed, br They die. br br Dreamers, mark the honey bee; br Mark the tree br Where the blue cap "tootle tee" br Sings a glee br Sung to Adam and to Eve - br Here they be. br When floods covered every bough, br Noah's ark br Heard that ballad singing now; br Hark, hark, br br "Tootle tootle tootle tee" - br Can it be br Pride and fame must shadows be? br Come and see - br Every season owns her own; br Bird and bee br Sing creation's music on; br Nature's glee br Is in every mood and tone br Eternity.