WHEN LOVE HAS PERISHED

When love has perished

and past dreams have vanished

when once-carefree kisses

are just ghosts of bliss

when words once so dear

now come to haunt the ear

when the field once endowed with flowers
is now drenched in mud and heavy showers

it is time to move on and say farewell

life offers bouquets still--choose not hell

while the heart still flutters and yearns
while the blood still burns

nothing should hold back life

even though there would still be grievous strife

that all mortals are born to bear

but one should proudly still dare

stand unshaken, unafraid to stare

adversity and pain—anywhere-

with equanimity and grace

in destiny’s unforgiving face
c’est la vie, nothing to grieve, my friend

this is but the flowering of a fresh dawn, not the end.