I knew and did walk with thee as a child
To the place of sacrifice, wept and mourned;
Rejoiced when thou arose to free thy flock,
My love, honour and life I gave to thee.
--
Sent away from thee when young no longer,
Cast aside childhood games to seek anew,
Gentle in spirit, not valiant of heart,
Too frail to quest, a brave queen never more.
--
The pain of thy absence burned my hope,
Prevented by knowing, faith away flew.
My emptiness filled up with hollow things;
Vanity's mirror shows no anguished face.
--
Father, mother, brothers, sister and thou;
Why, Lord, so cruel to take all that I love?
If such a price for sinful weakness then
Better I was never robed, crowned and throned.
--
Untamed breath warms not the stone of my soul,
Deep snows of one hundred winters do reign;
The witch's cold wand is yet unbroken,
Winding of gift's horn shall not redeem me.
--
Dwelling within the land of dim shadows,
Face in ashen paint, all joy departed;
How can belief flourish in sterile soil?
Grieving eyes despair for lion's gaze.