Can a man ever know what he cannot recall?
Not at all, not at all! said the words on the wall.
How is the man, when he has no intent?
He is spent, he is spent! said the words on the tent.
And without a notion of what came before?
He is poor, he is poor! said the words on the floor.
Can he repent for the trespass forgot?
He cannot, he cannot! said the words in the pot.
What does he hear, if his ears do not hold?
The untold, the untold! said the words in the cold.
Where is his sight when the past will not be?
It will flee, it will flee! said the words suddenly.
What will he say when all speech appears new?
What are you, what are you! said the words as they flew.