A Life Without Joy

I think I'm going to make it through ,
It's been so long you see ;
There's much more life behind me now
Than out in front of me .

There was a time , when not so sure ;
I thought to end it then .
I didn't see how one could live
Without much joy and win .

But I found out you can endure
Without a special one .
And after all , it must be said ;
Of fate , what's done is done .

And so I choose to carry on
With life and burdens bore .
I hope if I can carry these ,
God may not give me more .

But if He did , I hope He'd grant ,
My just one simple plea ;
To end my life with one great love
Who'd bring great joy to me .

So now I'm near the end of life ,
My joyless days near done .
I'd lie if I would dare to say ,
I never did have fun .

But what is true , and that's the rub ,
Of life , don't you agree ;
Is love is really what's required ,
For joy to be set free ?

So on it is with what remains ,
I hope , not very long ;
Of life , perhaps to know great love ,
If it should come along .

And as I go my separate way ,
I'll not begrudge their joy ;
If others feel what I once felt ,
When I was just a boy .

Instead I'll smile and just recall
The joy I felt back then .
And know that I'll feel soon enough
Love's wondrous joy again .

GREENWOLFE 1962