The sun arose, its duties to uphold  
In its usual, resplendent style.
While flaunting its rays of orange and gold,  
Proudly it rose, with an unsettling guile.  
But I wasn't moved by this garish display,  
For I find no joy since love went away  

And why does the moon glimmer so brightly?
The sun and moon --- a heartless duet!
I find their demonstrations unsightly,
A disgraceful breach of etiquette;
Such indifference causes me agony,
For I find no joy since Love turned from me

Just listen to those warblers in that tree--
Their once-welcomed songs lack appeal;
How dare they sing amidst my misery . . .
How can my broken heart hope to heal?
O, forgive my tone so doleful and wry,
But I find no joy since Love said good-bye

Come, Love, fly homeward to my heart once more --
Heal the dying dreams of yesterday;
Don't leave me standing alone on Life's shore --
(I'd rather the tide swept me away!)
Even Angels in their heavenly lair
If bereft of Love would flee in  despair!
          
But life marches on the same as before --
And the Earth still orbits the sun,
And each day my heart breaks a little more
Facing solitude when day is done;
Though fearing derision, I'll not be coy . . .
To live without Love is to live without joy!

I finally have to admit it,
Though it brings a mountain of grief,
Despite his look of innocence,
The man that I love is a thief!

It all began when first we met ---
To my surprise he stole my heart;
But the man cannot help himself . . .
He's cunningly skilled in this art

In daylight hours or dark of night
His boldness astonishes me!
He'll steal a kiss, then take my love . . .
(I'm in awe of his strategy)

While whispering sweet things in my ear
He then steals my will to resist;
And when he leaves I'm robbed of peace ---
(In his absence, threats still exist)

My dearest thief, please be assured,
There is no need to steal from me;
Simply ask me for what you want . . .
I'll give it to you willingly!

My heart throbbed with Love's expectations
As he pressed his lips to my ear;
Passion's voice eagerly whispered
Forbidden words I longed to hear

Each kiss evoked thrills beyond measure ---
How they left me gasping for air;
But, O, when his face rested on mine
And his fingers tangled my hair!

So warm was his breath and his sighing,
Like the embers of passion's fire;
Then a gentle stroke of his hand
Ignited the flames of desire

I smiled as he struggled to tell me
What his eyes so clearly revealed;
But no words had to be spoken --
The fate of our love had been sealed

So close was the blissful surrender,
I could feel the beats of his heart;
So close to ecstasy  . . .  and then,
Suddenly, it all fell apart!

The warbling of a bird awoke me,
Then my eyes caught the sun's first beam;
So close had I come to Heaven . . .
But it was no more than a  dream

I heard the cries of his broken heart --
How it begged for the pain to cease!
So compelling was its lament,
I tenderly gathered each piece

The moon glowed with a pale radiance
As he revealed his doleful plight:
The scornful deceit of a woman
Caused hope and trust to take flight

Each word he spoke flew like a dagger,
Piercing my heart mercilessly;
My own despair, caused by cruel deceit,
Was a blight on Love's memory

In our pain we found a common link --
Hearts doomed to deceit's damnation;
But Fate's course was soon to be altered . . .
O, sweet joy of liberation!

Unhappy memories flew from our hearts
As if on the wings of a dove;
And deceitful lies melted like snow
Upon the sacred fires of our love

Now a joyous dawn greets us each day,
Pain and woe are in full retreat;
On this twisted, rocky path called Life
True Love's radiance now guides our feet

Don't idly sing love songs to the wind ---
A troubled heart might be lurking near;
What a loathsome task to have to rescind
Loving words it was not meant to hear

Tread with caution, lest you wake the beast
That's held captive in some desperate heart;
When from its ******* Hope has been released,
It becomes fair game for Cupid's dart

Crumbs of Love that are carelessly tossed
Might be hungrily devoured in haste;
Once that bridge to Paradise has been crossed,
O, what pain when steps must be retraced!

Use due caution before you declare
Unwavering love to a distraught heart;
Deceitful words, though delivered with flair,
Carry the sting of a poisoned dart

Words of love are messengers of Hope
That allow earthbound hearts to take flight;
But lies and deceit weave the fatal rope
That binds lonely hearts to their sad plight

Our winter sun has set ---
The days grow shorter now;
The love that we share brings not one regret,
And so I make this vow:

I shall remember you
When through that dark abyss
I journey alone, as we all must do,
When doomed by Death's vile kiss

And when you've reached Death's shore,
Marooned by Life's fierce tide,
I'll search for you, and mournfully implore
Quick passage to your side

My cries will resonate
Throughout Eternity,
And if there be a Divine Magistrate,
I'll beg on bended knee

And as I seek your hand
In realms extraordinaire,
What joy will be mine in that foreign land
To find you waiting there

Death's mandates may be stern
But Love need not obey,
For Love defies Death, showing no concern
For Life's sad yesterday

And we'll not flinch at chance,
Nor will despair dictate;
In this realm of eternal circumstance
Love has no fear of Fate

And how we shall rejoice
When our souls reunite
To bear witness to and vow with one voice
The Love that Death could not smite!

Somehow you wandered into my world ---
I don't know how you found your way!
The path was unmarked and overgrown,
No welcome signs were on display

I kept my door locked, and curtains drawn,
No light streamed from the window pane;
And yet, you dared to knock at my door
And enter my dreary domain

But now that you're here I realize
How wretched loneliness can be;
And I give thanks to the Star of Love
That guided your footsteps to me

Ponderous stones of distrust and fear
Weighed on my heart many a day;
Somehow you trampled those stones to dust,
And Love gently blew them away

Winds of despair extinguished Love's fire,
But somehow you relit the flame;
Now I find myself reaching for dreams
I never thought I could reclaim

Yes, dark clouds still gather overhead ---
Life must pander to misery;
But since you wandered into my world . . .
Somehow, it doesn't matter to me