From the Hidden River Reaching
From the hidden river reaching,
Help from up above beseeching,
Calmness and composure breaching,
In the cavern darkness mired.
Water on my person dripping,
Into hidden hollows tipping,
Sanity abruptly slipping,
Woebegone, bereft and tired.
Peat in earthy blackness looming,
Casting shadows all consuming,
With the rushing water booming,
Like a death knell undesired.
Seeking sweet emancipation,
Lest I fall to ruination,
Mounting such a protestation,
To my steed so well admired.
Hellishness and hate befalls me!
With a precipice that calls me!
Satan in the dark enthralls me!
Threatening a life expired!
Help me into brighter keeping,
From this murky chasm seeping,
From the banks of Hades leaping,
Lest I am to hell retired!
Footholds loose and sharply quaking,
All the fickle edges breaking,
Wry damnation in the making!
With the devil’s host inspired!
Pull me up to my salvation!
To the daylight’s emanation!
Lest I end in death’s cessation!
Into wat’ry torment fired!
E’en thy hoof is apt for clinging!
With the hope of heaven bringing!
With the grateful angels singing!
With my former joy acquired!
Slipping now on edges sloping!
With my unavailing groping!
Tis in thee I place my hoping!
All the bliss of life desired!
God above pray mercy on me!
With the lonely deeps upon me!
Do not let thy goodness shun me!
In a fate which hell conspired…
