As the life of the flower As the breath or a sigh So the years that we live as a dream hasten by True, today we are here But tomorrow may see Just a grave in the vale and a memory of me As the life of the flower As the breath, or a sigh So the years glide away And alas, we must die As the life of a flower Be our lives pure and sweet May we brighten the way for the friends that we greet And sweet incense arise From our hearts as we live Close to Him who doth teach us to love and forgive As the life of the flower As the breath, or a sigh So the years glide away And alas, we must die While we tarry below Let us trust and adore Him who leads us each day Toward the radiant shore Where the sun never sets And the flowers never fade Where no sorrow or death, may its borders invade As the life of the flower As the breath, or a sigh So the years glide away And alas, we must die