I
O nature's allness, here is your son
Our youngest brother who is lost.
We found him behind a prison wall.
We bring him here with this our prayer
to you who are in truth his mother:
Take him back, O nature's allness
Turn him to water, ash and earth!
II
We found him and we carry him
As he was carried by his mother
As pure and unused as a lamb
We found him and we have him here
Turn him to grass and wind and trees
And sweetbriar and rowanberries
A full-grown lad of nineteen years
We found him behind a prison wall
Take him back, O nature's allness!
Take care of our youngest brother.
III
Now we have brought our youngest brother
We found him behind a prison wall
Take him back, O nature's allness
He was your handwork, you his mother
Take care of our youngest brother
Turn him to ashes, wind and earth.
|