It must have been for one of us, my own, 
To drink this cup and eat this bitter bread. 
Had not my tears upon thy face been shed, 
Thy tears had dropped on mine; if I alone 
Did not walk now, thy spirit would have known 
My loneliness; and did my feet not tread 
This weary path and steep, thy feet had bled 
For mine, and thy mouth had for mine made moan: 

And so it comforts me, yea, not in vain. 
To think of thine eternity of sleep; 
To know thine eyes are tearless though mine weep: 
And when this cup's last bitterness I drain, 
One thought shall still its primal sweetness keep, — 
Thou hadst the peace and I the undying pain. 

In Oxford town, a carpenter named John,
Had a young wife, Alisoun, fair as the dawn.
He doted on her, kept her locked away tight,
But love, like a miller's wheel, it grinds both day and night.

A scholar named Nick, a cunning young man,
Lived with John, with a stargazer's plan.
He lusted for Alisoun, a right merry dance,
This tale of deceit, a bawdy romance.

Nick, with his lute and voice like a song,
Charmed Alisoun, though to John she belonged.
He whispered of love, a forbidden delight,
While poor John the carpenter, snored through the night.

A student named Absalom, with locks flowing gold,
Also desired Alisoun, a story untold.
He joined in the plot, a love triangle's plight,
This tale of deceit, under the pale moonlight.

John, fearing a flood, by Nick's cunning tongue fooled,
Built three baskets, high in the rafters, so rude.
He planned to escape with Alisoun, you see,
While Nick and Absalom, climbed for a rendezvous, oh glee!

A jolly old parish clerk named Wally the wheeze,
Also fell for Alisoun, down on his knees.
He craved a hot meal, some company too,
This tale of deceit, just what will they do?

John climbed to the basket, a terrible crash,
As the rope snapped, leaving him hanging, aghast.
He bellowed for help, a flood's on its way!
But Alisoun and Nick, had a different game to play.

They tricked him with shouts, of a watery doom,
While Absalom climbed, for Alisoun's room.
Nick, with a hot poker, dealt him a blow,
This tale of deceit, getting out of control!

Wally the wheeze, climbed for a tasty treat,
But landed with Absalom, a comical feat.
John, still aloft, his anger did rise,
He cut down the baskets, with fury in his eyes.

The commotion awoke the whole town in a fright,
John, bruised and bewildered, exposed Nick's wicked plight.
Alisoun feigned innocence, a sly, wicked grin,
This tale of deceit, let the laughter begin!

The Miller's tale ends, with a lesson to learn,
Love and trickery, a fire that can burn.
So next time you court, with a heart full of glee,
Remember dear listener, what goes around, comes back to thee!