In my life you lately nursed my grief,
Consoled my broken heart,
Provided sweet relief.
I thought we’d never part,
That I’d no longer mourn,
And make a brave new start.
But now I’m prey to doubts and fears:
You may just be my fond pretence ’
A proxy wife to stem my tears.
My late love’s a silent presence,
Her absence still is everywhere,
Her loss is still immense.
You share the fairness of her hair
Sometimes I see her in your eyes,
But your footstep isn’t hers upon the stair.
I can’t deny this clouds our skies
My past obscures our present,
But time will yield our sweetest sighs.
There will be love and not laments.