une lai celtique...

La grandeur humaine
Est une ombre vaine
Qui fuit;
Une ame mondaine
A perte d'haleine
La suit.

translation:

The greatness of man
Is a vain shade
Which flees;
A fashionable heart
A loss of breath
Follows It.

...a fleeing or fleeing thought?

[A "lai" ("lait" in Irish Celt) is based on a single thought expressed with an octosyllabic format in most cases. It's origins are from 12th century tradition.]