All things in this world are vain!
All things that we try to gain!
Pearls and gold, cities and crown, all must
Stay behind, when we return to dust!

Have we drunk the wine of power?
Have we seen our finest hour?
Aft we have gained all this stuff,
Do we meet a cruel rebuff?

Look ye, all men, great and small;
See ye all these white brick walls?
Remain but these smooth grey stones
Beneath which are dead men’s bones…

Look ye, and fear, death takes all!
Death hath come from ‘Adam’s fall’;
In this world, we may rule all,
All but death – life’s bitter gall!

Inside houses we may be,
And think from death we are free?
Sadly…into houses death will creep
Right across the room to where we sleep!