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