And crystal snowflakes weave their cerement.

Six pairs of skies,[1] each improvised a sled,

On which were placed the stark and staring dead;

As flickering lanterns flashed a ghostly glow

Upon them in their winding-sheets of snow,

The sad procession now retraced its course

Back through the dismal forest, while the blast

Wailed forth a requiem in accents hoarse,

Which shuddering pines re-echoed as it passed.