When Hearts Are Young

My love was young, and I was young,

     And I threw it by the way;

And a maiden fair came strolling there,

     And picked it up one day.

But she left me nothing in return,

     Went singing blithe and gay;

And my love was young, and my heart was wrung,

     When I threw my love away.

When you came into my life, my dear,

     I had scarce a heart for you;

‘Twas only the shell of a bygone spell,

     Too thin to be good and true.

And when you whispered your love to me,

     Tho’ your lips I would not stay;

I felt somehow, and I know it now,

     That you threw your love away.

Dec. 23, ‘98

Boston Globe