Post by Nuala Bowtitt on Feb 21, 2007 23:01:41 GMT
A LESSON IN LIFE
I found him in the gutter being pelted by life's rain
His love had died, I had to make him want to live again.
I made myself available 24 hours a day
And looked out for his welfare in every possible way.
The first three months- a nightmare. We played his drunken game
He'd telephone at 3 AM and call me by her name.
At 10 PM I'd sit there, ready for my bed,
The phone would ring "Come out to play" were the usual words he said.
I cooked for him and washed for him and saw his place was clean
And sometimes he'd go missing and for days, be off the scene.
I knew I'd grown to love him and that love paid dividends
For his periods of drunkenness were coming to an end.
Back on his feet, been out one day and making our way home
He handed me the 'key to his life' - but I had to come alone.
Being widowed with a small child - an ailing mother too,
That wasn't something I would ever be prepared to do.
"Can't take responsibility, it's simply not my thing!
But if you shed some of that load, I may give you a ring"
I can't believe I stood it or put up with him so long
But I'd saved his life, I loved him and to me he did belong.
We saw each other often, only ever his request.
I'd see the notes from other girls thrown carelessly on his desk.
I stayed and did my duty and as the years were spent,
My mum passed on, my son grew up and off to college went.
And when the dog had passed away - from old age, I must say
I thought that now I was alone, at last would come my day.
I put this to my lover that at long last I was free
And with no hesitation, he said these words to me -
" I've considered my position and on second thoughts I find
That our love, not now and never was the everlasting kind.
So thanks so much for everything and all the effort made
But I'm off to start a new life in sunny Adelaide.
I've bought a one way ticket for my life I'm going to share
With a girl I spent 3 weeks with last month when I was there."
I find myself now thinking - If I hadn't tried so hard,
I wouldn't now sit here alone, hoist by my own petard.
I found him in the gutter being pelted by life's rain
His love had died, I had to make him want to live again.
I made myself available 24 hours a day
And looked out for his welfare in every possible way.
The first three months- a nightmare. We played his drunken game
He'd telephone at 3 AM and call me by her name.
At 10 PM I'd sit there, ready for my bed,
The phone would ring "Come out to play" were the usual words he said.
I cooked for him and washed for him and saw his place was clean
And sometimes he'd go missing and for days, be off the scene.
I knew I'd grown to love him and that love paid dividends
For his periods of drunkenness were coming to an end.
Back on his feet, been out one day and making our way home
He handed me the 'key to his life' - but I had to come alone.
Being widowed with a small child - an ailing mother too,
That wasn't something I would ever be prepared to do.
"Can't take responsibility, it's simply not my thing!
But if you shed some of that load, I may give you a ring"
I can't believe I stood it or put up with him so long
But I'd saved his life, I loved him and to me he did belong.
We saw each other often, only ever his request.
I'd see the notes from other girls thrown carelessly on his desk.
I stayed and did my duty and as the years were spent,
My mum passed on, my son grew up and off to college went.
And when the dog had passed away - from old age, I must say
I thought that now I was alone, at last would come my day.
I put this to my lover that at long last I was free
And with no hesitation, he said these words to me -
" I've considered my position and on second thoughts I find
That our love, not now and never was the everlasting kind.
So thanks so much for everything and all the effort made
But I'm off to start a new life in sunny Adelaide.
I've bought a one way ticket for my life I'm going to share
With a girl I spent 3 weeks with last month when I was there."
I find myself now thinking - If I hadn't tried so hard,
I wouldn't now sit here alone, hoist by my own petard.