Only Love Remains

I will weep today my love
Softly for myself alone
I will let the bitter pain
That wracks my flesh and tears my bones
Let it overwhelm my eyes
And down in salty rivers flow
Then I'll put on my public face
And never let the wounding show

I will weep for you my love
When, a dozen years from now
Some acquaintance comes to whisper in my ear
And tells me how
All you cherished, all you strived for
Sons and daughters, house and land
Were bartered by a faithless woman
Into a younger, stronger hand

I will weep for you my love
But not too loudly nor too long
For those who choose to take their chances
With the beautiful and strong
Must realise that beauty passes
Age advances, strength decays
When dreams have turned to dust and ashes
Love, and only love, remains
I will weep for you my love enough to fill a salty sea
For wasted words and wasted chances and the love that might have been
For now we know that beauty passes, age advances strength decays
When dreams have turned to dust and ashes
Love, and only love
remains ...