The journeyman weaver

Beam and shuttle seem to know

His inner thoughts, and softly llow

Backward, forward, to and fro.

Weft thread fast and warp thread slow,

White thread joy and black thread woe,

Backward, forward, to and fro.

Things and shadows darker grow;

Daylight flickers to and fro.

Backward, forward, to and fro.

Outside the horns of winter blow,

Journeyman, 'tis time to go I

Backward, forward, to and fro.

Death.... his hand is cold as snow

Quench the ashes, keen him low,

Backward, forward, to and fro.