I read a long time ago somewhere that the poem was...

Samhainn is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please do put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny then a ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny a loaf of bread will do if you haven't got a loaf then gods bless you!"


I did just find this 1800's version though with different names for the "soul cakes" as in "friendship bread" "fruit bread / cake" :

"A soul! a soul! a soul-cake!
Please good Missis, a soul-cake!
An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry,
Any good thing to make us all merry.
One for Peter, two for Paul
Three for Him who made us all.

[Verse 1]
God bless the master of this house,
The misteress also,
And all the little children
That round your table grow.
Likewise young men and maidens,
Your cattle and your store ;
And all that dwells within your gates,
We wish you ten times more.

[Verse 2]
Down into the cellar,
And see what you can find,
If the barrels are not empty,
We hope you will prove kind.
We hope you will prove kind,
With your apples and strong beer,
And we'll come no more a-souling
Till this time next year.

[Verse 3]
The lanes are very dirty,
My shoes are very thin,
I've got a little pocket
To put a penny in.
If you haven't got a penny,
A ha'penny will do ;
If you haven't get a ha'penny,
It's God bless you!"