I find my sorrows to be lightened
When I sing of things that grieve my heart;
When the threat of despair is heightened,
It is then my feeble warblings start;
At first, notes take off like birds, frightened
By a storm, as to and fro they dart
But soon my refrains flow like a stream,
Consuming the petty stings of grief;
One by one they fade into a dream,
Bringing to my heart blessed relief;
But how I tire of altering Life's scheme,
Rustling its script like a petty thief
It's not joy that causes me to sing,
But dark despair that provokes these tears,
With each note, another tear takes wing,
Each song freeing pent up woes and fears;
Without song how sharp would be the sting
Of Love's cruel deceit over the years
And if the strains of a mournful song
Escape from my window late at night,
My heart's remembering some grievous wrong --
A melody helps the pain take flight;
My heart does not pretend to be strong,
A fallen warrior, it fears its plight
Tears leaving my eyes cannot atone
For the wretched pain life sends each day;
When buds of loneliness are full-blown,
I weave each bloom into a bouquet;
With arms filled with flowers, I walk alone,
Composing new songs along the way