My Long , Long Trail Of Tears

I should have known I'd cry this way .
I just forgot somehow .
Although I shed them years ago ,
The last ones fell just now .

I held your picture in my hand
And teardrops fell like rain .
I saw that twinkle in your eyes
And was a child again .

My love , your gift is one fine thing
That makes it all worthwhile .
The wait of more than forty years
To see your childhood smile .

I tried for years to just recall
The way you used to be .
Then when I saw your photograph ,
It all returned to me .

The flaming love that I once felt ,
Was just as it had been .
Delivered with your precious gift
Of how you looked back then .

There's nothing more for me to do ;
But sit , and stare , and cry .
I'm much too old to do much else
Before my time to die .

There's nothing more for me to say ,
I've told it all to you .
My love , you are the one affair
I've had my whole life through .

I guess it takes a little time ,
Just more than forty years .
I know I cut it long ago ;
My , long , long trail of tears .

GREENWOLFE 1962

Heaven

I'm in Heaven while I'm living
Way down here on earth with thee .
For my darling , you're the angel ;
That brings it , so close to me .

As God must love his creations ,
He would surely be remiss ;
If the wonder of your being
Was not one he came to miss .

He might then , take jealous heeding
Of the time I've had with you .
And decide it's time to gather
To Himself this love so true .

That is why I fear the hour
On that dark and fateful day ,
When the Lord calls one more angel
Home to join His bright array .

What depression , pain , and sorrow
Shall invade my troubled mind ?
As I know that time for certain ,
I'll be left so far behind .

Will I yet again know Heaven ,
As it's been with you and me ?
How much time must I endure , this
Hell on earth it's bound to be ?

And if I should tire of sorrow ,
And the pain's too much to bear ;
Will I find you dear in Heaven
If I go in search up there ?

And would I , in seeking Heaven ,
Find another Hell instead ?
As I know one thing for certain ;
Living's Hell , when loves are dead .

I have this to keep me going .
This alone , till life is through .
Just the faith , that God in wisdom ;
Knows my Heaven is with you .

And if life and death are parcels
Of the same divine design ;
God will share again His angel ,
And His kingdom shall be mine .

GREENWOLFE 1962

Each Wondrous Thing

I wake up each morning
No matter what season , in spring .
For seeing you lie there ,
Reminds me of each wondrous thing .

The green in the meadow .
The fragrence of flowers that grow .
The fresh flowing waters .
The soft , gentle breezes that blow .

The songs that the birds sing .
The wonders that nature can do .
Are captured each moment
I spend lying here next to you .

And though every season
Will always change over , it's plain .
We'll know only springtime ,
Where our love shall always remain .

And that's as we planned it .
A season for our love to grow .
The seeds of our young love
Turned into the true love we know .

For now , we'll just linger .
Forever , our love in the spring .
As I lay beside you
Reminded , of each wondrous thing .

GREENWOLFE 1962

This Little Thing I Do

I don't know why I came to see
The girl that I once knew .
Except to say she might approve
This little thing I do .

She never cared that much for me .
But this I can forgive .
For I expect she knew my thoughts
On how she chose to live .

She knew I cared enough for her
To leave her to her life .
Though she once said she'd not consent
To be a loving wife .

And so I came this special day
As I have come before .
When she requires my services;
Each time , she hurts me more .

Why I let her torture me
Is anybody's guess .
So I have come, for I still care ,
Expecting nothing less .

But this may be the final time .
She doesn't look so well .
I fear she'll find the afterlife
A bitter place to dwell .

Now , you may think it harsh to say
What I have said of her .
But all I've done is tell the truth ,
So why should I defer ?

And as I've said of her before ,
I love her as she is .
I pray she'll find the answer soon ,
To lifetime's lonely quiz .

For though she never found true love
While searching every place .
She might just look inside my heart ,
When we come face to face .

Perhaps that's why I came to see
The girl that I once knew ,
Hoping that she may approve
This little thing I do .

GREENWOLFE 1962