Once Songtext
von R. S. Thomas

Once

God looked at space and I appeared
Rubbing my eyes at what I saw
The earth smoked
No birds sang
There were no footprints on the beaches of the hot sea
No creatures in it
God spoke


I hid myself in the side of the mountain
As though born again
I stepped out into the cool dew
Trying to remember the fire sermon
Astonished at the mingled chorus of weeds and flowers
In the brown bark of the trees
I saw the many faces of life
Forms hungry for birth mouthing at me

I held my way to the light
Inspecting my shadow boldly
And in the late morning you
Rising towards me out of the depths of myself
I took your hand
Remembering you

And together
Confederates of the natural day
We went forth to meet the machine