And seem to sigh decay,

Till, thou, despoiled of life and strength,

Art borne, a corpse, away.

Wild, bleak, and blustering Winter wild,

Assumes the icy throne;

Deep snows upon the earth are piled,

And hushed is every tone.

The trees stand bare, bleak skeletons,

Of bodies once so fair,

And dirges, dirges, woeful ones,