Voiceless it cries
Wingless flutters
Toothless bites
Mouthless mutters
It cannot be seen, cannot be felt
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt
It lies behind stars and under hills
And empty holes it fills
It comes first and follows after
Ends life, kills laughter
This thing, all things devours
Birds, beasts, trees, and flowers
Gnaws iron, bites steal
Grinds hardstones to meal
Slays king, ruins town
And beats high mountains down