Tears

Sometimes they fall at will,

Their will, not mine;

Or sometimes something stirs my thoughts,

And they need no other sign.

Once, I vowed no tears would fall,

I'd hardened up my heart,

But now that you have passed away,

I've seemed to come apart.

For years, we played our roles so well,

Evasiveness versus sparring;

And now it seems, I miss even that,

Despite the telltale scarring.

It seems so very long ago,

Yet, just like yesterday;

When sorrow came to be my partner,

And share the hours of my day.

I cannot think about the future,

There's no retirement in sight;

Just working hard throughout the day,

So I can sleep at night.

1994