Before I see another day, + 

Oh let my body die away! + 

In sleep I heard the northern gleams; + 

The stars they were among my dreams; + 

In sleep did I behold the skies, + 

I saw the crackling flashes drive; + 

And yet they are upon my eyes, + 

And yet I am alive. + 

Before I see another day, + 

Oh let my body die away! + 

My fire is dead: it knew no pain; + 

Yet it is dead, and I remain. + 

All stiff with ice the ashes lie; + 

And they are dead, and I will die. + 

When I was well, I wished to live, + 

For clothes, for warmth, for food, and fire; + 

But they to me no joy can give, + 

No pleasure now, and no desire. + 

Then here contented will I lie! + 

Alone I cannot fear to die. + 

Alas! you might have dragged me on + 

Another day, a single one! + 

Too soon despair o’er me prevailed; + 

Too soon my heartless spirit failed; + 

When you were gone my limbs were stronger; + 

And oh how grievously I rue, + 

That, afterwards, a little longer, + 

My Friends, I did not follow you! + 

For strong and without pain I lay, + 

My Friends, when you were gone away. + 

My Child! they gave thee to another, + 

A woman who was not thy mother. + 

When from my arms my Babe they took, + 

On me how strangely did he look! + 

Through his whole body something ran, + 

A most strange something did I see; + 

—As if he strove to be a man, + 

That he might pull the sledge for me. + 

And then he stretched his arms, how wild! + 

Oh mercy! like a little child. + 

My little joy! my little pride! + 

In two days more I must have died. + 

Then do not weep and grieve for me; + 

I feel I must have died with thee. + 

Oh wind that o’er my head art flying + 

The way my Friends their course did bend, + 

I should not feel the pain of dying, + 

Could I with thee a message send! + 

Too soon, my Friends, you went away; + 

For I had many things to say. + 

I’ll follow you across the snow; + 

You travel heavily and slow: + 

In spite of all my weary pain, + 

I’ll look upon your tents again. + 

—My fire is dead, and snowy white + 

The water which beside it stood; + 

The wolf has come to me to-night, + 

And he has stolen away my food. + 

For ever left alone am I, + 

Then wherefore should I fear to die? + 

My journey will be shortly run, + 

I shall not see another sun; + 

I cannot lift my limbs to know + 

If they have any life or no. + 

My poor forsaken child! if I + 

For once could have thee close to me, + 

With happy heart I then should die, + 

And my last thoughts would happy be. + 

I feel my body die away, + 

I shall not see another day. + 