The Song of Aldhelm

Come over the bridge, my merchants,
Come over the bridge, my souls:
For ye all are mine by the gift of God,
Ye belong to me by the right of my love,
I love
With a love that is father and mother to men,
Ye are all my children, merchants.
Merchant:We have no time, we have no time to listen to idle dreams.
Aldhelm:But I, poor Aldhelm, say you nay;
Till ye hear me, ye have no time
Neither for trade nor travelling;
Till ye hear me ye have no time to fight nor marry nor mourn;
There is not time, O World,
Till you hear me, the Poet Aldhelm,
To eat nor to drink nor to draw breath.
For until the Song of the Poet is heard
Ye do not live, ye can not live.
O noonday ghosts that gabble of losing and gaining,
Pitiful paupers that starve in the plenteous midmost
Of bounty unbounded.