If Only

Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the sadest are . . .

If only I could cry,
the pain would stop
This burning, aching,
trembling would ease

If only I could die,
the pain would stop
the interminable longing
feel would cease

If only he would come,
the pain would end
I wouldn’t e’er remember
it could be

If only he would call,
the pain would end
the emptiness would vanish
in a breeze

If only dreams would go and leave me be,
If only love would stop and let me live
If only Fate would quit its need
to ever-onward torture me
If only for a second it would give

If only happiness
had never come
for fleeting moments,
teaching me to hope

If only he had left me there
upon my deathbed of despair
If only he had never taught me love . . .

If only . . .