What empty hands are these before my eyes
And who might they have held within my mind
No lover’s skin to drift upon my sighs
No touches sweet to bless the view behind
What empty eyes are these within the glass
Twin hollows in a cold cadaver’s face
That never saw upon the sun-warmed grass
The children round the willow giving chase
What empty mouth is this that ne’er had sung
But mournful prayed, so hollow and unheard
From endless depths the haunted wails were wrung
Abandoned hope left all without a word
What empty heart is this within my breast
A loveless pit of neverending scorn
Pale shadows dancing round about in jest
Torment by night and melt away by morn
What empty soul is this that animates
Unwilling flesh, a puppet-dance on strings
Each searing breath it vehemently hates
While mirrored hope it mercilessly sings
