When i meet the morning beam
Or lay me down at night to dream,
I hear my bones within me say
Another night, another day

When shall this slough of sense be cast,
This dust of thoughts be laid at last
The man of flesh and soul be slain
And the man of bone remain

These today are proud in power
And lord it in their little hour
The immortal bones obey control
Of dying flesh and dying soul

'this long till eve and morn are gone
Slow the endless night comes on
And late to fulness growns the birth
That shall last as long as earth

Wanderers eastward, wanderers west,
Know you why you cannot rest
'tis that every mother's son
Travails with a skeleton

Lie down in the bed of dust;
Bear the fruit that bear you must
Bring the eternal seed to light
And morn is all the same as night

Rest you so from trouble sore,
Fear the heat o' the son no more
Nor the snowing winter wild
Now you labour not with child

Empty vessel, garment cast
We that wore you long shall last
Another night, another day
So my bones within me say