An Allegory on Friendship

What strange migrations happen every day, How short, alas, is friendship's golden reign! Like op'ning rose-buds drink the dews of May, Then shortly fall in winter's lap again.

The glowing beam, whose life-creating fire, Warm'd ev'ry root, and bids the cowslips peep, Declines its aid, and 'bove the clouds retire, And leaves them, in their former state to sleep.