against fear or doubt

 those who have vanished those gone up the spout

the scarperers last season's best reaping

were our last bulwark against fear or doubt

 

so total silence follows on the shout

clamping down hard on laughter and weeping

those who have vanished those gone up the spout

 

in teaching us just what to do without

and what exactly is worth safe-keeping

were our last bulwark against fear or doubt

 

but since they're gone we lack all redoubt

no place to which we can hurry creeping

those who have vanished those gone up the spout

 

simply precede us on the journey out

message and method both so sweeping

were our last bulwark against fear or doubt

 

now in the midst of this inhuman drought

we fade into the darkness while sleeping

those who have vanished those gone up the spout

were our last bulwark against fear or doubt