Drove past a village green and saw the daffodils have all but wilted away .. leaving decaying dried-up stalks that used to proudly adorn majestic yellow petals .. Robert Herrick lamented this poignant metaphor of life in his famous poem "To Daffodils" ..

We have short time to stay as you;
We have as short as spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
As you or anything.
We die,
As your hours do, and dry
Away
Like to the summer's rain;
Or as the pearls of morning's dew,
Ne'er to be found again.