he asked her once
why she was so afraid –
if he had known
how badly he scared her
he would not have asked

  water fallen, as a dream
  that drifts upon a mountainside;
  water fallen, every day
  across a heart that’s deep and wide

she told him once
that he should strive for more –
if she had known
how badly that scared him
she might not have enjoined him so

  water fallen, like the days
  that we careless cast away:
  water fallen, all the ways
  that we find to port and pay

they married once
because the day seemed right –
if they had known
the scabs don’t heal by picking
they might not have touched —

  water fallen, like the hope
  love will come to stay for good;
  water fallen, in the glade
  where those two young lovers stood.
  water fallen, hearts will try,
  even though their fate seems dim —
  but as love has ever been, so
  will be her and
  will be
  him