  THE QUESTION THE river is flowing, The stars coming forth: Great ruddy clouds going From westward to north. The rushes are waving, The water’s still blue: And I am behaving Decorously too: The amorous zephyr Breathes soft in our ear: Who hears not is deafer Ah! list to the whisper Of waters and sky! Thames, vagabond lisper Grows subtle and sly. How trebly delicious The air-draughts we quaff: The hour is propitious:— Oh!... why do you laugh? THE ANSWER Ask the sky why it flushes, The clouds why they glow: The weir why it gushes, The reeds why they grow: The moon why it rises, The sun why it sets: Her why she surprises, Him why he forgets: The star why it twinkles, The west why it shines: The brow why it wrinkles, The heart why it pines: Mankind why they blunder, The corn why there’s chaff: Ask yourself why you wonder— Not me why I laugh! J. K. Stephen. |
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