O Lady Poverty, who through this lengthy fast
doth empty soul and body of its worldly load;
and though depriving us of our desir'd repast,
lays down before our feet the only proper road.
O Lady Poverty, who purges putrid taint
like living water cleansing filth from dirty hands;
who brings the purifying sorrows of complaint,
and with the suff'ring servant through his sorrow stands.
And soul and body emptied, on her ard'ous way
we move toward richer pastures and the promis'd lands.
O Lady Poverty! how sweet the price we pay
to fill our emptiness with sacred Word to say!
