before the beginning of years
there came to the making of man
time, with a gift of tears

grief, with a glass that ran

pleasure, with pain for leaven

summer, with flowers that fell
rememberance fallen from heaven
and madness risen from hell


strength without hands to smite
love that endures for a breath

night the shadow of light
and life the shadow of death


and the high gods took in hand
fire and the falling of tears
and a measure of sliding sand

from under the feet of the years

and froth and drift of the sea

and dust of the laboring earth
and bodies of things to be
in the houses of death and of birth


and wrought with weeping and laughter
and fashioned with loathing and love

with life before and after
and death beneath and above