When I was young then all my boughs
were thickly hung with glittering hopes
But one by one they've blown away
and only one remains today
It flutters out upon the air,
one hope all pinned on gossamer

What are all lives but gossamer
in one lacy cobweb crossed?
Yet strand by strand we tear at it
until the pattern's lost
And one by one hopes blow away
till only one remains today

I hope the forest will return
to climb the mist-hung morning slopes
Where falling leaves deep-banked in fern
may meet the water ouzel's hopes
But one by one they've blown away
and only one remains today

And when the condor opens flight
on crystal air not cracked or stained
by any fallen angel's flight,
these glittering hopes may be regained

When I was young then all my boughs
were thickly hung with glittering hopes
But one by one they've blown away
and only one remains today
It flutters out upon the air,
one hope all pinned on gossamer