Our little hour
how swift it flies
when poppies flare
and lillies smile
how soon the fleeting
minute dies
leaving us but
a little while
the dream, our dream
to sing our song
the gods they do not
give us long
to pick the fruit
to pluck the flower
one little hour
our little hour
when love with yew-eyed loveliness
raises her lips
for ours to kiss
and dies within first caress
how short it is
how short it is
youth flickers out
like wind-blown flame
for time and deaths'
relentless claim
sweets of today
tomorrows sour
how short it is
our little hour
our little hour
how short a time
to take our fill
of armored crime
to wage our wars
to fan our hate
to troop our banners
and storm the gates
blood on the sword
our eyes blood red
do we forget
how soon is sped?
blind in our puny
reign of power
our little hour
our little hour
how short a time
to tell our beads
to chant our feeble litanies
to think sweet thoughts
to do good deeds
how soon it dies
how soon it dies
the altar lights
grow pale and dim
so passes with the dying hymn
the bells hang silent
in the tower
our little hour
our little hour
