the nations search for treasure and beasts rise from their tombs kings revel in triumph all succumb to shadows in their own turn the fish spawn the birds nest the roses bloom and wither away the winds lash the leaves decay all deaden to ice covered by snow see beyond the secrets of space the four bearers of heaven gaze in all directions the four wise ones stand their ground call the stars that shine in their skies gaze in all directions the rivers rush the lakes they gleam when summer yields to autumn s cold moments flee into oblivion fading to blue and turn into rime moments flee into oblivion the first cloaked in clement winds the second with meadow scented hair the third who s cold and grey the fourth who carries the snow away  sing the beginning of our songs spin an end to all our stories sing the beginning of our songs and bring an end to all our stories in tuonela see beyond the secrets of space the four bearers of heaven gaze in all directions the four wise ones stand their ground call the stars that shine in their skies gaze in all directions kings revel in triumph all succumb to shadows in their own turn moments flee into oblivion all succumb to shadows in their own turn