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