The reaper is not made of cloth and bone 
nor is he male,
but a wondrous young woman, 
tall and thin and pale.

My first encounter with maiden fair

 was at the gallows grim. 
She caught me by surprise that night

 and asked me if I was him

I replied, "Which he are you looking for?" 
and she answered "A he like you." 
I nodded and watched her work 
as she fashioned a hangman's noose

She bound the cords together 
and draped them 'round my neck.

 We walked along a sorry road; 
I began to recollect.

Along that road, we were silent 
and only the wind made proud, 
but the echoing was lost to me 
for I could not hear a sound.

Darkness sat in the late of night 
and the half-moon drew a sigh; 
the sun was rising early; 
I saw, an' began to cry.

Light fell past my body 
but no shadow did I cast 
and the town was at the gallows;

 how astonished they did gasp.

For a man much like me stood hanging 
at those gallows grim.
And for once I began to notice
that man was I and I him.