As we the withered ferns br By the roadway lying, br Time, the jester, spurns br All our prayers and prying -- br All our tears and sighing, br Sorrow, change, and woe -- br All our where-and-whying br For friends that come and go. br br Life awakes and burns, br Age and death defying, br Till at last it learns br All but Love is dying; br Love's the trade we're plying, br God has willed it so; br Shrouds are what we're buying br For friends that come and go. br br Man forever yearns br For the thing that's flying. br Everywhere he turns, br Men to dust are drying, -- br Dust that wanders, eying br (With eyes that hardly glow) br New faces, dimly spying br For friends that come and go. br br ENVOY br br And thus we all are nighing br The truth we fear to know: br Death will end our crying br For friends that come and go.