Once stately stood we, limb and bough
Our root and trunk, grown thickly strong,
Did thwart the wind. Did check the plow
We all alive, we all a throng.

With glee our canopy was spread
This green a shield. This green a blade
A barrier to place instead
Twixt time and age - twin villains stayed.

Then quick came rust, then quick came blight
Whence went the Oak, the Beech from sight?
Whose sturdy, trusted friendly light
Now gone, now gone. Chased day to night.

Time has sapped and pruned and pared
This fellow's copse. No longer shared

A wistful, longing glance I see,
Bare limb, bare bough surrounding me
With Autumn's fall, no spring in lee -
I am the last leaf on the tree

I didn't always know your thoughts
We never stopped for antiques or laughed with children at play
We always walked inside the shadows
And I think I loved you more this way
We never ran along the beach
All the rain did was make us wet
A smile was all you need to say
And I think I loved you more this way
No swings or slides or snowball fights
No missing sleep by dancing nights
We've spaced the years and measured well
No arrow's flight, but where it fell
And standing here both grown and grey
I think I loved you more this way

Moonlight
Silver-blue clouds
A darkened hillside touching a star
At times the nights are soft
And I can shape them from memory
Forming thoughts of you before me
As you were,
In the soothing breeze of summer's breath
And now alone, without you
That wind is just one more haunting whisper
Telling me I have yet to lose you.
But, at times,
When the nights are soft
And I can shape them from memory
It just feels so right and natural
That I should be coming to see you

Tonight your name was mentioned between old friends.
And again you were walking in my door
Again your voice was on the other end of the line
Again your time was precious
And a squeeze of my hand a secret between us
Tonight your name was mentioned between old friends.
And again there was a trace of your cologne
Again I recognized your handwriting from the notes you left
Again you spoke of me to your friends.
And suddenly
The lights were moving and the world was in reverse
And I had what I had missed for so long
Tonight your name was mentioned between old friends.

Within each realm of my heart's reach
Within each heath and lea and fen
Within each stone and star and beach
I find my love for you, again
In children's cheeks and old men's eyes
In winter frost on glade and glen
A moment's thought, I realize
I find my love for you, again
The years are long, I climb the hill
And dream of you, a dream until
Once through this life, once to the end
I part the veil, a glance and then
That old embrace, yet new, that's when
I find my love for you, again

As calm as wind while morning breaks
Or still as twilight's brief affair
Midst glassy rage of moon-bound lakes
A love exists with no compare
In storms of dew on sequoia blade
In distance crossed by silent prayer
And full in stars that twine and fade
A love exists with no compare
And while I fright a fleeting hart
And while my arms hold tenantless air
And though we spend our lives apart
A love exists with no compare