Better Unborn

Better it would be for me 
And better it would have been 
Had I not been born, not grown 
Not been brought into the world 
Not had to come to this earth 
Not been suckled for the world 

If I’d died a three-night--old 
Been lost in my swaddling band 
I’d have needed but a span of cloth 
span more of wood, 
But a cubit of good earth 
Two words from the priest 
Three verses from the cantor 
One clang from the bell