Lock and Key

When I was young and daring,

I let my heart fly free,

And wore it in my laughing eyes

For all the world to see.

To each and every passer-by

I let it dance and sing,

And to each soul that lent its love

It joyfully took wing.

When once my eyes beheld him,

My heart leapt to its feet

And ran to him with burning fire

And pulsing, glowing beat.

He held it for a moment,

Then threw it to the ground,

And trampled it with callous care

And killed its every sound.

They told me, “Lock your heart up,

And throw away the key.

There it will heel, and never feel

The world’s cruel, poisoned stings.”

I picked it bleeding off the ground

And hid it in my breast,

And vowed I’d never let it go,

Nor see its love transgressed.

Yet though I kept it hidden,

And vowed love was no more,

Your song tore down the iron walls

And battered in the door.

Your music healed my throbbing soul

And soothed love’s wounded source.

For still to love, though all is lost,

Is life, and life’s own course.