Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A LYKE-WAKE DIRGE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A LYKE-WAKE DIRGE, by                    
First Line: "this ae nighte [night], this ae nighte [night]"
Last Line: And christ receive thy saule [soul]
Variant Title(s): The Cleveland Lyke Wake Dirge
Subject(s): Death;judgment Day;wakes; "dead, The;end Of The World;doomsday;fall Of Man;


THIS ae nighte, this ae nighte,
-- Every nighte and alle,
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,
And Christe receive thy saule.

When thou from hence away art past,
-- Every nighte and alle,
To Whinny-muir thou com'st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule.

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,
-- Every nighte and alle,
Sit thee down and put them on;
And Christe receive thy saule.

If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane
-- Every nighte and alle,
The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane;
And Christe receive thy saule.

From Whinny-muir when thou may'st pass,
-- Every nighte and alle,
To Brig o' Dread thou com'st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule.

From Brig o' Dread when thou may'st pass,
-- Every nighte and alle,
To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule.

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,
-- Every nighte and alle,
The fire sall never make thee shrink;
And Christe receive thy saule.

If meat or drink thou ne'er gav'st nane,
-- Every nighte and alle,
The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;
And Christe receive thy saule.

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
-- Every nighte and alle,
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,
And Christe receive thy saule.






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