Cross Roads

WHEN WAR CAME

     War came, one day, and drew us close together,
        Although it swept us many miles apart;
     The love that lay as lightly as a feather,
        Now rests, a precious weight, upon my heart.
     And all the dreams I dreamed for just the dreaming,
        Have taken on a meaning that is new;
     And somehow all the lonely world is seeming,
        To cry aloud my aching need of you!

     Because you were so much a part of living,
        Like sunshine and the freshness of the air,
     The priceless gift of faith that you were giving
        Seemed small to me.  Scarce knowing you were
           there
     I took your heart-strings in my careless fingers,
        And played a song as light as summer dew,
     And yet, today, its wistful echo lingers
        And fills an empty world with thoughts of you.

     I did not think that I would ever miss you,
        I did not dream the time would come to be
     When I would long to touch your hand, to kiss you—
        To hear your voice say tender words to me.
     I did not know that I would wonder whether
        My head would rest, once more, against your
           heart....
     War came, my dear, and drew us close together,
        Although it swept us many miles apart!