A Down Payment on Forever

Handing back the present,

With not so little grace,

Gently stepping a pace away,

She fingers the fragile lace.

He comes along beside her,

Looks at her in the mirror,

"But can't you know--why can't you see,

It goes like this, my dear.

This down payment on forever,"

He whispers in her ear.

"Is but  a prelude to your future."

He wipes away a tear.

A little black dress made of lace

A warm touch on her back

A quiet study of her face,

A gentle smile cracked.

"I’m not going anywhere.

I love you—that’s a fact.

You’re all mine and I’ve got dibs;

You can’t send me back."

"I’m not him, I promise,"

He swears on wind and rain.

"I’ll kill him if you’ll let me—

You’ll no longer know that pain."

"You’re my too much," he tells her;

"Too Much won’t change a thing.

The I’m-too-much-for-you-to-hold--

That’s not a song we sing."