Far in the cradling sky,
Dawn opes his baby eye,
Then I awake and cry,
Woe is me!


Morn, the young hunter gay,
Chases the shadows gray,
Then I go forth and say,
Woe is me!


Noon! drunk with oil and wine,
Tho' not a grief is thine,
Yet shalt thou shake with mine!
Woe is me!


Eve kneeleth sad and calm,
Bearing the martyr's palm;
I shriek above her psalm,
Woe is me!


Night, hid in her black hair
From eyes she cannot dare,
Lies loud with fierce despair;
Then I sit silent where
She cries from her dark lair
Woe is me!

More verses by Sydney Thompson Dobell