(a Hallowe'en ritual)
On All Hallows Even I lay down and wept
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
For the loom of life, the warp and the weft.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
It's not for the old whose time has come
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
But the young untimely laid in the tomb.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
It's not for the sick who are given release
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
But the whole cut down by their decease.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
The grave is a warm and welcoming place
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
And all my old comrades I'll there embrace.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
I saw my old comrades the other night
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
They were standing in glory, surrounded by light.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
Don't burn my body, but let it lie
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
Where I can hear the cock's Resurrection cry.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
Go dig my grave with a silver spade
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
Lower me down with a golden chain.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
Old comrades and friends, don't weep or mourn
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
The old world is dying, so help it on.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
I want to go gentle into that goodnight
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
I want to go singing into the light.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
I want to go singing into the night
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
But I fear I won't go without a fight.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
The Angel of God has ebony wings
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
And sweet is the chorus the angel choir sings.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
The river of death is deep and wide
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
Please ferry me over to the other side.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
The pain of our going is sharp as a knife
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
In the midst of our dying we've Eternal Life.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
On All Hallows Even I lay down and slept
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
At sunrise and dawning my mourning heart leapt.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
Lie still and lie peaceful, all my old loves
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
For the eagle is flying, surrounded by doves
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
Don't worry your head about which way you'll go
– Death, old friend, I'll be seeing you soon;
Your account has been settled, the debt paid in full.
– And he gathers us in by a sickle moon.
October 17, 1998
