"We are all maidens,

We must all die."

Lovely is every thing

Luminous and white,

Silver and quivering,

Eager in flight.

Lovely are the young.

They do not know why

They all must grow older

They must all die.

All except Mary Ann.

Even I know

She is so happy here

She cannot go.

She is tall, she is young,

She is dark and rare,

The beating of her heart

Quickens the air. .

She loves so deeply

All the hours that fly,

So fiercely, tenderly,

She cannot die.