*

Ere the fly, ere the ant,
Ere the fox, ere the deer,
Ere the man, ere the son,
Ere the land, ere the sea,
Ere the west, ere the east,
Ere the sun, ere the moon,
Ere the stars, ere the void,
Ere the light, ere the dark.

Ere the dark come the light,
Ere the void come the stars,
Ere the moon come the sun,
Ere the east come the west,
Ere the sea come the land,
Ere the son come the man,
Ere the deer come the fox,
Ere the ant come the fly.

Within each row is thread so single,
Mute is all but voices heard,
Without whom these stars shine blind,
But heard are all too few,
With wanton souls ere they gather.