Aeternum

“He said he loves me!”
My daughter danced with glee
And yet in just a few days
We would have to leave-
Departing forth to foreign shores
Lands and miles away-
Our families, question nevermore-
We’ll say our goodbyes one day.

Her loved one is a brave young lad
With strength of holy heart
Not afraid and undeterred
This quest, this mission on-
And then the day was on us
We rode across the leagues
He waved farewell and walked away
We said our goodbyes today.

“I love her now forever-
I’ll marry her one day-”
He tells me as we go-
My approval I give wholly
And yet forever is so long-
Will he remember it
Once this quest is done?
Since he’ll say goodbye one day.

Slowly our ways part
My someday son and I
“Bring him home, Dad,”
Her words echo soft-
My promise left unmade
The road is long and hard
And I know not if he or I
Will say our goodbyes this day.

We bid farewell
We ride away
Each man to separate end-
The sainted heart bears no fear
Of any bitter end-But love
And life and laughter go
And travel at his side
We said our goodbyes today.

He left and his face seemed
The noblest countenance
A being from a dream
Of hope and holy means-
My child’s dearest love-
I watched as he left
And ever after I regret
We said our goodbyes that day.

The longest road I trod
Was that which took me home-
Tired and weary-my quest complete
And yet undone, for
Another and more worthy one
Would finish this, our task
So I went home, my child to see
No more goodbyes that day.

The months went by
No word of her beloved came
The waiting waged on, heavy
Till dawn broke one dark day-
The friend who traveled with him
To us returned again-
Bearing news of him-
He’d said his goodbyes that day.

The heart beside me shattered
She fell weeping by my side-
There was no comfort for her tears
No laughter to soothe her soul
For no comforts, no laughs were his
Weep on, sweet child
For none can ever change-
You say goodbye today.

“He said he loves me-”
“He loves you now forever.”
Forever, cold and still
Or held in heaven’s bliss
“Will he remember forever?”
My child’s crown I kiss
She says goodbye today.

Time moves on-
An empty grave
Bears Memoriam
To him, whose sainted heart
My daughter’s won.
In widow’s garment black
She is by him every dawn
She says goodbye each day.