Why, Why Repine?

Why

why re­pine

my pen­sive friend

At plea­sures slipped away?

Some will the stern fates nev­er lend

And all re­fuse to stay.

I see the rain­bow in the sky

The dew up­on the grass

I see them

and I ask not why

They glim­mer or they pass.

With fold­ed arms I lin­ger not

To call them back; ’twere vain;

In this

or in some oth­er spot

I know they’ll shine again.