Once, deeply, she loved a young sailor
He'd promised he'd take her away
She'd packed bags, and defied her own father
She was waiting; cast wisdom aside
She'd set sights on someplace exciting
When her love came to tell her goodbye
"Go out that gate, gal, and I'll shoot you!"
Her father's words weren't a threat
The sad thing was that, in her weak state
Rejection was much worse than death
Goodbye was too much to bear
She broke down; begged as if in great pain
Brokenhearted, she chased his car; screaming
Down home, she'd forever remain
That day, her mind was arrested
Though she married, and settled a while
Her heart only made room for her first love
And her favorite was her first child
She raised her baby, always doubting
Always fearful of saying, “She's yours"
Though they never agreed to reconcile
He lamented the shame she endured
As for her, she was strangely contented
Part of him was better than none
Freedom was all he desired
He made that clear to everyone
But he did have a bit of a conscience
Told himself that if ever he would
Impregnate another young woman
He'd do the right thing as he should
"A child needs a mother and father"
His mother's words lived in his mind
He determined that he'd do the right thing
That meant leaving all others behind
She heard that he'd wed a young teacher
From Addis he summoned his bride
Someone else would enjoy all she'd dreamed of
Someone else would be by his side
Forty-four years she waited
Forty-four years she tried
To pretend she loved another
To deny feelings she couldn't hide
She and the sailor are old now
Their respective spouses have died
Nothing keeps them apart now
For decades she'd kept hope alive
Except, he doesn't want to be bothered
Tells her he's not the man that he was
Callously, he calls her love "graveyard"
From her lips, he's well spoken of
Repeatedly, she still phones him
It's his voice she still wants to hear
As coldly as he greets her
It's enough, in her mind, it appears
As if they're still those teen lovers
As if, for them, there's still time
As if one day he'll come for her
As if there's still love left to find
When the phone rings, he hates it's her calling
He says she has nothing to say
He says it's a shame she still wants him
But he answers her calls anyway
He says he wishes she'd stop now
Why he won’t tell her, no one knows
Perhaps he still wants to be wanted
Even as his days come to a close
He remembers her screams to this day
"Please don't leave me!" seared into his mind
Pity almost made him turn back
A drink helped him leave her behind
His brother-in-law helped persuade him
"Man, what do you need with a wife?"
The high he was on helped convince him
Being tied down was not the good life
She wanted to be his bride
He had no thoughts or time for such things
Didn't want to be saddled with one girl
Had no care for what marriage would bring
And now, at this stage he's certain
He's too old, too feeble, too slow
It's not her wanting him that’s the trouble
It's his own failings he dare not show
He's not virile, not strong, not handsome
He's not smooth, not sharp, not erect
He's not flashy, not slick, not his old self
He's not what he thinks she'd expect
It's easier for him to reject her
Treat her badly so that she would end
Her persistent efforts to show him
They can be that young couple again
Friends want to tell her "stop calling"
They suppose it's just not their place
They ache for her each time she calls him
They can all see the hurt on her face
When she phones, all she gets are excuses
Undeterred, she phones anyway
Reluctantly, someone answers
She should know what they're going to say
"He's not here",
"He's asleep",
"Oh, he's eating"
"He can't talk now",
"He's busy",
"He's gone"
Truth is, he doesn't respect her
She's a pest now
He wonders how long
Will she keep hoping that he remembers
How pretty she once used to be
Overlook the woman she is now
Forget the old man that he sees
Each time he looks in the mirror
The decades he knows have gone by
The time he cannot redeem now
The fears and regrets in his eyes
The horrible way that he left her
The way it affected her life
Her forever, backward gaze longing
To be a young sailor's wife
She has no idea what she's teaching
The lesson her life is, indeed
For the prettier girls who replaced her
Her example has planted a seed
If a man truly wants you, you'll know it
If a man truly cares he won't leave
If a man is indifferent, just let go
What any man shows you, believe
If a man says he's done, you be done too
Take the hint, and don't be a fool
Don't waste time crying, hoping, and praying
While he's using, or pitying you
The prettiest girl in Morrisonville
Finally mustered the nerve
To let go of her fairy tale romance
Prompted by the words that she heard
“I’m sorry, but he isn’t here now
A few weeks ago, he passed away”
When she hung up, she paused and considered
All the years as they faded away;
Whether caring is ever wasted
Whether loving is just for the young
If the story of her devotion
Would live on when her life is done
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