The Dream Of A Shadow Of Smoke (2024 Remaster)

So is every man, he is born in vanity and sin
He comes into the world like morning mushrooms
Soon thrusting up their heads into the air
And conversing with their kindred of the same production
And as soon they turn into dust and forgetfulness
Some of them develop any other interest
In the affairs of the world but they know
That their parents are little glad and very sorrowful
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Others ride longer in the storm
But maybe until seven years of that to be exiled
And then peradventure the sun shines hot upon their heads
And they fall into the shades below
Into the cover of death and darkness of the grave to hide them
But if the model stands the shock of a bigger drop
And that leaves the chances of a child
Of carelessness, of drowning in a pail of water
Of being overlaid by a sleepy servant
Or such little accidents
Then the young man dances like a bubble, empty and gay
And shines like a dove's neck
Or the image of a rainbow, which hath no substance
And whose very imagery and colors are fantastical
And so he dances out the gaiety of his youth
And is all the while in the storm
And endures only because he is not knocked on the head
By a drop of bigger rain
Or crushed by the pressure of a load of indigested meat
Or quenched by the disorder of ill-placed humor
Homer calls a man a leaf, the smallest
Pindar calls him the dream of a shadow
Another the dream of the shadow of smoke
But St. James spake by a more excellent spirit
Saying "our life is but a vapor"
That is to say, drawn from the earth by a celestial influence
Made of smoke or the lighter parts of water
Tossed with every wind, moved by the motion of superior body
Without virtue in itself, lifted up on high or left below
According as it pleases the man or Sattva
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
In my mind is the sound of rudderless ships
Of time and of time, of time and of time
And of time and of time
So much silence has deafened our ears
So much emptiness hinders our movements
Lost in the earth and lost in the air
Around my hollow globe
Broken feathers blocking my words
And then no words fall
No one smiles and nothing moves
Broken and slow, the sun bears dear
So one, I shall think of
Two, I shall not write of
Three, three, three, holds three functions
So three, I shall ask myself
Four, and hope to die
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust