It's the fleeting things that are my riches,
It's your pretty eyes and your long lashes
It's your loving lips, your tender hands,
Your tattoo of a rose with bleeding thorns.
Now it's a lonely way I've felt all day
With a book in my hands full of well-laid plans
And it's as before when I was all alone
And I'd read until I couldn't read anymore
Till my head was tired and my eyes were sore.
Surely you'll be gone when I'm on my sickbed
Surely you'll be gone when this love is dead
And you'll never know how you changed my mind
And taught me how this world can be such a good time.
So I won't wait and I won't stall
I'm much too tired and my will is much too small
I'll lay out my neck for the axe to fall.
My darling's bones will crumble someday,
From dust to dust we all must stray
But while they're here, my God I pray,
Those bones I'll cradle while I may
Though flesh and blood will pa**,
My word will remain - my word will stay