yesterday, I raised up the lid of their toy chest

ah, had I but known what awaited me there



a childs sleeping doll, long smothered with kisses

a plush teddy bear, its stuffing all sadness

a star on each page of their school notebooks

and a sorry toy sailboat, shipwrecked like my old heart



chorus:

and a ray of sunlight

a handful of sadness

farewell my little ones, farewell my loved ones

farewell to youth



and crystal marbles, glowing souvenirs

slip through my fingers like precious stones

and next, stamps from all over the globe

come by the thousands to brighten their lives

the dried roses of their first loves

and a forgotten rosary that awaits their return



chorus







and a faded journal, withholding its secrets

somewhat as we, too, have done

and finally a puzzle with pieces gone missing

somewhat the way it has been between us



chorus