1. Woes struck with grief, taking brother and father away
Despite one's will, fate would have it thus or nay

2. A destiny has run its course in creation, no man can find
Escape from the decrees of fate once made and designed

3. Greetings upon your aged arrival, welcome and good day
God has granted me in you what He willed to bestow and pay

4. You came while the world pressed on me as though
It was fate's fist and time's flood overthrowing

5. And time has lifted its mask, leaving me no recourse
To awe but to let it sweep me away without remorse

6. It turned its reins to me with no hesitation,
And planted grey hairs on my face, no longer fleeting

7. A woe has saddled me, its horror too vast,
For the open space, as hiding holds no steadfast

8. If but by leaves in the dark I could my cries invest
I would not refrain to let the leaves my sorrows attest

9. You have lit up my soul's darkness kept hidden so long
And struck sparks from my patience grown cold and gone

10. So that I feel the years have toyed with my mind
And you have revived for me the spirit of youth to find

11. Never your day, O gentle one, when you inspired
Hope's lightning in me, east or west seen and admired

12. And you cast far God's way, from you a grave betrayal,
Spreading over the plain, sunlight or vale

13. And singled me out for sorrow and loss to demolish
My strength, and bent neck that would not replenish

14. No goodness in life I see, with father and brother gone
No living after them I want, no morrow's dawn

15. If not for duty to move on, and knowing that
We sail life's ship, I would stay motionless like that

16. For when we raced after youth, dusky and bright,
Grey age overtook us, turning locks silver white

17. The meeting place is but steps away, and in the turns of fate
Souls descend into it, be that their own will or fate

18. I would have let grief drag me boundless lengths
And cast off the garb of patience at its strongest defense

19. Yet patience most befits the noble youth comport
Though duty is to subdue oneself when grief does contort

20. And if you make God your resort in times of need
You will find no escape but to Him your soul shall cede