This life of man is but a span
We all come down in fields of rape
Our little eyes do glitter like the sun
He gave me a delicate gown to wear
And twisted steel and broken wheels
In a million years ten million years
I curse all gold and silver
This life of man is but a span
We all come down in fields of rape
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit
Nor how the bones do grow
In the womb of her that is with child
Even so thou knowest not the words of God who maketh all
In the morning sow thy seed
And in the evening withhold and apprehend
For thou knowest not whether she'll prosper
Or whether they should both be
In a million years ten million years
I curse all gold and silver
Remember now thy creator in the days of life
Or the moon and the stars be all darkened
How the clouds return after the rain
In the day when the kings of the house shall tremble
And the strong men shall bow themselves
And the quiet de-cease for there are few
And those who are gone to the windows be darkened
And the door shall be shut on the streets
When the sound of the quiet days
And we shall summon the voice of the birds
And all the daughters of music
And men shall be afraid of that which is high
And fear shall be in the way
And the almond tree shall flourish
And the grasshopper shall be a burden
Because man goeth to his long home
And the mourners go about the streets
Or ever the silver gone be loose
Or the golden bone be broken
Or the pigeon be broken at the fountain
Or the wheel broken in the system