And so love disappears from rented hearts
Thus released we walk apart in silence
The way of memories painful and short
I see the flower-girl
She does not stop
Yes I know that she will not sing for me
But the tingle of other names remains
I know it does not help to feel this way
So show me another
Point me the way
I've lived too long
I've seen too much
I've learnt that I should never touch
So much pain for so little gain
Doesn't stop it starting again
Writhe in your ephemeral bed of fire
The flames are hot but feel how they die out
Mournful flickers of spent heat haunt me still
So do not lighten my darkness, lady
I can suffer no further degradation
Brought about by my animal pa**ion
Do not arouse me from loveless slumber
I must live as I dream
That is alone
I've lived too long
I've seen too much
I've learnt that I should never touch
So much pain for so little gain
Doesn't stop it starting again
As for those voices I won't heed their call
Desires k**ed by self-denial
The absence of hope will hurt me less
Than building myself up for another fall
Therefore I shall block my ears to your call
I prefer to lash myself to the mast
To the thought of tying myself to you
I shall not believe all that you may sing
And thus avoid the wreck that I have become
It took so very long to reach this end
To start again requires a leap of faith
A leap that I'm not prepared to make