O Sorrow

O sorrow, my friend
I am indebted to you

For your presence is witness
That her memory still lives

Had you not been there
Where would that beautiful, lethal
Memory have lived?

Had you not been there
That memory would have died, slowly

As dies the evening of togetherness
Writhing, suffering, slowly


O sorrow, my friend
I am indebted to you

For your presence is a sign
Of the people met, the relationships that blossomed, the friends separated

Had you not been there
How would that time between meeting and separating
Have breathed?

Had you not been there
That time would have choked to death

As choke to death hopes
Whimpering, panting, slowly


O sorrow, my friend
I am indebted to you

For your presence is proof
That this heart still beats

Had you not been there
What pulse would this naive, weak
Heart have followed?

Had you not been there
This defeated heart would have turned silent

As do eyes turn silent
Having wept a storm, slowly