Lost Love Poem by Barry Stebbings

In that long dark sadness of your leaving
Neither star nor moon could give light to me
And no sunlit dawn would ease my grieving,
Neither time nor distance enlighten me.
But return with love as your alibi
And your excuses for departing done.
Then does the bright dawn light the darkened sky
And hope reborn with the arisen sun.
Should your stay be shorter than a Winter's day
When the scarcely lit hours cold comfort give,
Then leave and let me with sharp sorrow stay
And in darkening dusk's dying hours live.
Your name is joy and joyful your return,
But not to return; dawn to dusk will turn.