Grass now and lilies and leaves,

Quickly and beautifully fled

In a time that no one remembers,

Drifts in the wind and weaves

Round the high-hung, mouldering rafter

A wisp of the jests and the laughter

Some one knew in the past;

Breathes and blows on the embers

Of the dying spirit of me.

There is my gauntlet at last,