His footsteps I won't hear today
Coming down the tiled hall
So he will not be near me
When my sorry teardrops fall.

And when he passes where I sit
Today he will not halt
For he is angry with me
And I know it is my fault

This morning he was kind to me
And I, such a sleepy fool,
Let us lie a-bed too long
Though I'd sworn to uphold the rule

And when the time came to arise
My heart, it nearly wept
For little time had we remaining
For too long had we slept

I tried to rush and hurry
But it was of no avail
For no matter how I pushed myself
In the end I still did fail

So now I sit in misery
And wait for my day to begin
I wish I had but a moment more
To say "I'm sorry" again.

But his footsteps I won't hear today
Nor see his smiling face
As I sit here with my many regrets
In this lonely, clock-slaved place.

And when he passes where I sit
Today he will not wait
For time is precious to him
And today I was too late.