A hand reached out from heaven, br It strove to touch my head; br Then I was just eleven br And I ducked and turned and fled. br br When I grew up to seventeen br I lost the light of day, br The sky of blue, the earth of green, br And strayed into the gray. br br The gray was pleasing for a while; br The pleasures of twilight br Were serpents coiled with a smile br To flash a lethal bite. br br I groped to escape from the fang, br I stumbled through the gloom, br Clutched at the celestial hand br And saved me from my doom.